Fight against new Navistar site continues
Bill and Melanie Metcalf said a new state-of-the art school in Lisle for children with autism gave them back a lot more than just hope.
"Giant Steps gave us back our son," said Bill Metcalf, choking back tears, in describing the improvement he's seen in his 10-year-old son, Max. "You may not take him back again."
The Oak Park father joined two dozen others Tuesday who urged the DuPage County Board to reconsider its role helping Navistar advance a plan to move its headquarters into the former Lucent property, just across the street from the new school off Warrenville Road.
Giant Steps Illinois has provided education and support services for individuals with autism for more than 12 years. Two months ago, it spent $10 million to expand from Burr Ridge to a new 72,800-square-foot facility in Lisle for children who are so sensitive to noise, even the hum of a fluorescent light bulb can be distracting.
It's a village issue, and DuPage County leaders lack the authority to veto the project. Still, the county board became involved when it joined Lisle in donating $1.5 million to Navistar to purchase land in the back of the property once owned by Lucent but sold to the forest preserve district.
The county's involvement - largely fueled with the promise of creating quality new jobs - was necessary because forest preserve rules prohibit the sale of land to private industry.
Residents in the Lisle neighborhood and Giant Steps supporters called upon county leaders Tuesday to rescind that intergovernmental agreement. No formal action was immediately taken.
Opponents voiced environmental concerns with Navistar's plan to house a diesel engine testing site at the location. They also have stormed village meetings in protest with similar concerns regarding the environment, noise, traffic, tax incentives and whether Navistar is being upfront about its proposed operations for the site.
"Navistar's industrial footprint does not fit in the I-88 corridor," said Maribeth Kerr, a longtime resident of the nearby Edgebrooke subdivision.
"We will use every means available and will not stop working to keep Navistar away from our neighborhood."
The county's donation remains in an escrow account and its support can be rescinded if public concerns aren't quelled, but board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom said the project and the anticipated new jobs it will create are good for DuPage County.
As for Giant Steps, Naperville attorney Shawn Collins joined the fight in offering his services pro bono to the school. The new school building serves about 60 students, but has room for 120 as it grows.
Giant Steps invested $10 million, Collins said, "only to find out at the same time the village of Lisle was romancing Navistar."
He added: "If this project goes forward, this school will be ruined."