Feud brewing over West Chicago tech park
A recent flurry of letters shows a growing philosophical chasm on the future of the nearly vacant DuPage National Technology Park in West Chicago.
County board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom is being accused of stacking oversight boards in an attempt to maintain the original vision for the property - technology - while others want the purpose of the land broadened so it will be actually developed.
Nearly $40 million in state funds has been invested in the infrastructure of the property just south of the DuPage Airport over the past decade. Attempts to lure high-tech businesses and government operations to the property have been unsuccessful.
A Pella Windows sales and repair office is the only operating business in the 450-acre tech park, county officials said.
The property is owned by the airport and, by proxy, the county, which owns the airport.
West Chicago Mayor Michael Kwasman and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Warren Ribley are now asking Schillerstrom to look into other potential uses for the property.
"In order to realize a better return on the vast public investment made by the state, I am writing ... to encourage the DuPage Airport Authority Board to consider broadening the scope of the park beyond technology to include other general industrial uses," Ribley wrote.
Kwasman said it's time to "broaden the list of desired end uses."
Even officials from the marketing firm contracted to find tenants for the tech park believes the time has come to change direction.
"It is a struggle to identify credible, creditworthy technology prospects that have active research and development programs and are in need of real estate solutions to achieve their goals," wrote Fred Reynolds, senior vice president for development at CenterPoint Properties.
But Schillerstrom is steadfast in his desire to see the property developed in its original high-tech vision. So much so that today he is planning to replace two airport board members whose terms are expiring with new members he said are "supportive of the tech park."
The county board has to approve the replacements; some members believe the issue might get tabled.
"It's always good to have a little change in all these things," Schillerstrom said. "What I try to do with all appointments is bring in smart people with diverse views who will work hard for the people of DuPage."
Former county board member Bill Maio and attorney Terry Ekl are Schillerstrom's picks to replace longtime airport board members Gerry Gorski and Tom Maher. Both Maio and Ekl said they would be independent voices on the tech park issue and would listen to all sides before casting any votes.
Airport board Chairman Dan Goodwin said Schillerstrom had been threatening to replace airport board members who did not support plans for the airport board to cede its authority over the tech park property to the tech park board. That board has eight of its 11 members appointed by Schillerstrom.
Goodwin also believes occupancy regulations at the tech park should be relaxed.
"I believe it is time to explore a broader view of the tech park land," Goodwin said.
Schillerstrom may have a fight on his hands regarding the replacement appointments because some board members are opposed to Maio and Ekl.
Maio is a current DuPage Water Commission board member and that agency has been embroiled in a financial mess since its reserve funds were accidentally spent.
"They may very well attack that from a perception point of view, but the reality is Bill was one of the guys standing up and saying something was wrong," Schillerstrom said.
Ekl is facing opposition from county board members in District 6 where the airport is located. Ekl represented a company nearly a decade ago that was seeking to operate a waste transfer station near the airport.
County board members from that area fought the proposal because the county's only other waster transfer station was down the street from the proposed site.
Park: 'Good to have a little change,' Schillerstrom says