East Dundee car dealership might rent village water tower property
An East Dundee car dealership could soon use the land surrounding a village water tower to store and show cars, village officials said.
Representatives from Al Piemonte Chevrolet, 770 Dundee Ave., recently indicated that their business is picking up and that they need more space, Village Administrator Bob Skurla said. Seeking additional property to store vehicles nearby, they asked to rent the village-owned water tower property directly behind the dealership, Skurla said.
"It seems to fit very perfectly for what it is they want to do," he said.
Leasing out that space could also benefit the village, Skurla said, as it would bring in about $30,000 per year in rent for space that the currently goes unused.
"It's appropriate for both parties," Trustee Allen Skillicorn said. "It's a win-win."
Plus, Village President Lael Miller said, the more cars the dealership keeps on the lot, the more it will sell, benefiting both the village and the business.
Earlier this week, the committee of the whole gave the village the nod to negotiate the final terms of the deal. Skurla said the dealership is interested in a five-year contract with the option to extend it an additional five years.
Dealership representatives indicated plans to pave the empty space, which is just less than an acre, around the water tower, Skurla said, noting that they would be responsible for maintaining the property while they are renting it.
The contract would include the understanding that the cars kept on that lot must be moved for water tower repairs or replacements, he added.
Additionally, East Dundee plans to paint that water tower sometime in the next few years, Skurla said. Trustee Jeff Lynam suggested putting the additional revenue from leasing the space toward painting the water tower, which could cost around $250,000.
"It's land that we own that we're not currently using. Any revenues that come in for it is a good thing," Lynam said. "And it helps a prominent merchant in the village."