Kane Co. looks at redeveloping old jail site

The Kane County Board's Development Committee approved the first step in opening the old jail site in Geneva to redevelopment Tuesday, but not without tacking on a footnote.

The vote endorsed Geneva's plan to amend its zoning on the old jail site to help attract attention from potential developers for projects current zoning does not allow. The zoning in place now was created to allow for government use of the property. Geneva's vision calls for morphing the site into a mix of commercial, office, high-density residential and possibly a hotel or convention space. County board members agree with the idea of changing the use of the site, but not necessarily into something that includes high-density residential or even a purely private commercial operation.

County Board Member Phil Lewis, of St. Charles, has presented a second vision that would incorporate the old jail site into the existing forest preserve that surrounds the property and add elements similar to Ravinia in Highland Park and/or Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Lewis voted to endorse the zoning change Tuesday, but said he'll attend a future Geneva meeting on the issue to urge a different form of zoning less dependent on residential development and more conducive to his vision.

Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns said he's spoken with Lewis and believes their hopes for the future of the old jail site share more similarities than differences. All the city wants is the flexibility to start considering development options. County staff agreed with that idea in telling the committee delaying an endorsement only detracts from the value of the site. That said, the committee isn't prepared to say it wants to sell the site.

"We're not selling it," said Board Member Mike Kenyon, of South Elgin. "We're just getting it ready."

The next arena to sort out some of the details of potential redevelopment is through the Kane County Forest Preserve District. County board members are also forest preserve commissioners. Board Member Drew Frasz, of Elburn, said no one should read too far into the committee's endorsement because there is much still undecided.

"I just hope this doesn't lead to the conclusion that plan A is a foregone conclusion," Frasz said.