Warrenville could purchase former gas station site

Warrenville may buy a shuttered gas station at the corner of Warrenville and Batavia roads to clean up the property and spur its redevelopment.

The city council this week agreed to set aside money in its fiscal 2021 budget for the purchase of the roughly 1-acre site near the West Branch of the DuPage River. The $173,800 also would allow the city to begin an environmental cleanup of the land.

"The citizens have shown extremely strong support for acquisition of this dilapidated site," said Alderman Bill Weidner, adding the property is an eyesore "that we need to clean up."

If everything goes as planned, officials said, the city could purchase the site on or before June 5. The council would need to approve the deal.

The land will cost $30,000, officials said, but the city would need to pay roughly $55,000 in back taxes.

Demolishing structures, removing fuel tanks and cleaning the site is expected to cost more than $1 million. The city plans to seek grants to help pay for that work, which would take several years.

Officials say they don't believe the site will be redeveloped without the city's help.

"I don't see a path by which the private sector will find a way to do anything positive on that property," said Ronald Mentzer, director of community and economic development. "So if we don't move forward, the likelihood of it continuing to degrade is high from my perspective."

If the city buys the land, officials say the eastern portion - which is in a floodplain - would be used for open space with a trail. The west side would be redeveloped along with two adjacent properties the city owns to the north.

"I am very much in favor of this," Alderman Kathryn Davolos said. "I don't see anybody but the city of Warrenville that can do this."