‘A rare and exciting opportunity’: Grayslake hopes building purchase can boost Village Center

Grayslake leaders are making a big investment to determine whether a deteriorating vacant building can become a key element in ongoing efforts to brand the Village Center as a hub of activity.

By buying the former TNT Glass & Mirrors at 350 Center St. for $1.74 million, the village is taking a more active role in the future of the prominent property with the goal of finding a private entity to redevelop the site, officials say.

Situated between the tracks and Railroad Avenue, the long rectangular building is about 37,000 square feet and extends a considerable distance over 1.35 acres.

Built in the early 1950s, the building is deteriorating and in disrepair and hurting the appearance and vitality of downtown, according to Mayor Elizabeth Davies.

However, its location makes it one of the most important pieces of property for the continued growth and vitality of the Village Center, Davies said.

Grayslake, in recent years, has moved to change the area’s landscape, notably removing an old factory to create Gelatin Park and a storefront on Center Street that now is the Village Center Nature Trail.

“This isn't a new concept to the village board, but it will be one of the most ambitious,” Davies said of TNT Glass purchase. “The village's involvement in this will help us guide its reuse in a way that simple zoning and planning couldn't.”

In a social media post, she said the property represents “a rare and exciting opportunity,” and encouraged readers to share ideas to help guide decisions.

“By securing the site, we now have the ability to guide its reuse in a way that truly supports and grows the success of downtown Grayslake,” Davies said in the post.

What might work? The village hired SB Friedman Development Advisors of Chicago to study the options, such as cafes, specialty retail, food courts, entertainment venues or even a public market, Davies said.

The goal of a potential redevelopment would be to create a space that could house a private sector use to increase visits to the Village Center, according to Chase Muscato, deputy village manager.

Village improvements to the area have been ongoing. This year, overhead power lines were buried, the poles removed and the alley behind businesses on the north side of Center Street resurfaced.

Sidewalks, curbing and a small green space are being added to make it more accessible to pedestrians, Muscato said, similar to a project completed in the south alley a few years ago.

Conduit was placed in the area for future installation of EV charging stations, he added.

Aside from the traditional shops and restaurants along Center Street in the historic downtown, Village Center encompasses a larger area including parks, trails, public plazas and more.

At some point, the village board will select possible private sector uses for the TNT Glass building to be researched and evaluated by SB Friedman.

Afterward, the village will pursue private redevelopment partners prepared to invest and operate businesses at the site, according to Davies.

If no viable private sector uses surface, the village will consider demolishing the building for open space or a new development, but no final decisions have been made, Muscato said.