Wheeling parks interested in Wickes property

The Wheeling Park District might be pursuing its own interest in the vacant Wickes property on Dundee Road, which is a key part of the village's plan for the town.

"We're looking at all our options," park board President Tom Webber said Thursday. "Our ultimate goal is to see that property developed in conjunction with the village's master site plan."

Wheeling's master plan calls for Wickes to be redeveloped as housing and retail stores.

Webber added the park district doesn't want to acquire the Wickes site to keep it as open space -- it's too valuable for that, he said.

So why would the park district be interested in the Wickes property at all?

Webber said he could not disclose what the park district's interest is because of a nondisclosure agreement with Wickes.

"We wanted to take a look at all of our options to see if it made sense for us to pursue," he said.

The Wickes property is adjacent to the village hall on one side and Heritage Park and the park district administrative center on the other.

The property has been vacant since Wickes filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. The village has plans for a multi-use development there -- housing and retail -- to help create a center for the town.

Village Manager Mark Rooney said that since it's near the train station, Wheeling wants to pursue an semi-urban development to complement commuter traffic.

"There seems to be a great interest by the private sector," Rooney said.

Webber said other developers who have pursued the property in the past have also been interested in the park district's parking lot, which necessitates that the park district be involved in the discussions.

Rooney, meanwhile, said he learned of the park district's interest when he contacted the Wickes representative.

Rooney said he'd prefer to leave the development to a private firm so that taxpayer money isn't put at risk.

Webber said the park district will continue to talk to the village as plans progress with Wickes.

"We would have to partner with the village no matter what if we wanted to be part of that development," he said. "There's restrictions as to how we can dispose of or sell (parking lot) property, so the village would have to be involved."