Naperville buys land near transit

Naperville City Council members voted unanimously to buy two small properties near the downtown Metra station so the land can be used to help with commuter access or parking.

The city will spend $869,025 to buy the properties at 329 and 333 Center St. and an estimated $80,975 to clean up asbestos in the buildings, which the city plans to tear down.

The land could be used to provide up to 40 new parking spaces for Metra commuters or to create a rideshare drop-off and pick-up zone or improve the circulation pattern for buses.

The land is near the 5th Avenue corridor, an area the city has targeted for potential redevelopment. Plans for potential redevelopment are set to be discussed during a future city council workshop.