Libertyville to get serious about eyesore

One way or another, more than 40,000 travelers each day get a good look at what Libertyville village leaders would prefer they didn't see.

A service station, long out of business and boarded up, dominates the southeast corner of Route 176 and Milwaukee Avenue. For a town that prides itself on aesthetics, the building is like a blemish on prom night.

After a decade of grumbling and fruitless dealings with the owners, the village apparently has had enough.

"The board has taken enough complaints from the community. It's time to have them decide what to do with it," said Mayor Jeff Harger.

Tired of a lack of action, Harger said he has directed the village attorney to "start the process" that could lead the village to condemn the property.

The village has been dealing with John Graham, a Libertyville native and partner in Graham Enterprises in Mundelein. He was unavailable for comment.

"It's obviously a very noticeable and key location in town and the board is tiring of getting calls and complaints," said Kevin Bowens, village administrator.

The continuing issue resurfaced a few weeks ago as the village board discussed its goals for the upcoming year. Last year, dealing with three vacant properties was one of the board's stated goals.

Two of them, the former Bonzai Motor Sports site at Lake Street and Milwaukee and the former Frank's Nursery and Crafts building, 1600 S. Milwaukee, have new projects under way.

The third was the former Shell service station.

"There's not a specific deadline, but it's been moved to the front burner" as a priority, Bowens said.

Why the property on the busy corner has sat idle is not clear, although it is considered small in the modern era of multiple pumps and minimarts associated with service stations.

It is zoned for a commercial use but apparently had some variances attached. Removing the building would start the process anew and exceptions for things like building setbacks couldn't be guaranteed for a new project.

Harger and Trustee Bob Peron, former chairman of the Libertyville plan commission, said the village is willing to work with the owners, however, and would allow a new building to be constructed.

"We want a viable corner that will produce sales tax," Peron said. "No way they're going to develop around that existing building."

The village at one time was willing to donate or sell a 10-foot-wide former alley abutting the property on the south. But village officials first want to see a plan for the site.