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Voters support Oak Brook Park District initiative to buy McDonald's property

With all but four precincts reporting, it looks like Oak Brook Park District residents have approved a proposal to buy 34 acres of open space from McDonald's.

The park district has gotten voter permission to borrow $17.9 million to buy the property - even though the company has a contract to sell the land to Pulte Homes for an upscale townhouse development.

Park officials say they still hope to make an offer to the fast-food giant.

With 15 of 19 precincts reporting, the unofficial vote totals are 2,554 yes votes and 1,312 no votes.

If McDonald's accepts the park district's offer, Tuesday's vote will cost the owner of a $1 million house about $266 more a year in park district property taxes to repay the loan over 20 years.

Known as the McDonald's Soccer Fields, the land became available when the company moved its corporate offices to Chicago.

Officials and a resident support group said the site is the last large undeveloped parcel in the village.

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