Lisle site back on Navistar's radar

Navistar could be coming to Lisle after all.

Officials from the engine and truck manufacturing giant have scheduled a dignitary-studded news conference for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Lisle building where they had hoped to move their world headquarters earlier this year.

Navistar President Dan Ustian is expected to be joined by Gov. Pat Quinn and Attorney General Lisa Madigan at the former Alactel-Lucent building at 2600 Warrenville Road to discuss the company's "plans for its future operations."

Navistar officials twice submitted plans for a potential move to the building known for its satellite dish facade within the last year. The first set of plans were pulled following outcry over a proposed engine-testing facility that could have held up to 60 engines. The company walked away from a second zoning hearing in May, over complaints about the public hearing process that would have allowed opponents to subpoena company officials to testify.

Some neighbors of the facility remain concerned about air quality emissions from a scaled-down engine-testing facility. They also have concerns about extra noise and lighting additions to the massive campus.

Navistar recently extended its option to buy the Lisle property with Alcatel-Lucent. That extension runs through the end of the year. However, another agreement related to the potential move did expire recently. An intergovernmental agreement that called for the DuPage County Forest Preserve District to receive $1.5 million from the county and Lisle in exchange for a 3-acre ring road that runs around the northern perimeter of the property. The road would be handed over to Navistar in exchange for guarantees on new jobs and the length of time the company would stay in Lisle.

Residents complained about this issue as well as Navistar seeking to designate the 87-acre campus a Tax Increment Financing District in an effort to use some of their future property taxes to pay for infrastructure improvements.

However, some of those same opponents said Tuesday they couldn't talk about the new developments until after Wednesday's announcement.

Navistar's headquarters are currently located in nearby Warrenville.