Illinois House panel to consider Thompson Center sale

CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan says the lawmakers will consider a plan to sell the Thompson Center government office building in downtown Chicago.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has been interested in selling the large, glass-paned office building since he took office two years ago. The governor even mentioned the idea during his annual budget address on Wednesday.

The Chicago Tribune reports (http://trib.in/2lTw3oH ) Madigan said Friday that a House panel will examine the proposed sale, saying it's his "intention to work with the governor on developing a course of action for the Thompson Center that best serves the interests of the people of Illinois."

Architect Helmut Jahn designed the 17-story, 980,000-square-foot building, which opened in 1985 at a cost of $172 million. Rauner has estimated the state could net $200 million selling the building.

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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com