Mundelein settles condemnation fight with downtown business owner
Mundelein officials and the owner of a recycling business have settled a condemnation fight that had landed in civil court.
The village will pay the eponymous owner of the Alan Josephsen Co., 101 E. Maple Ave., more than $1.3 million for his land. Josephsen will seek to relocate the business, likely out of town, Mayor Steve Lentz said.
The nearly 1.9-acre site is on the south side of Route 176 and just west of the Canadian National Railway tracks, on the east side of the town's downtown district.
The company has operated there since 1978, recycling paper, cardboard and other materials. It's one of the few industrial businesses in the downtown area.
Village officials want the business gone to encourage new retail or resident development of the site, which would be more fitting with the rest of the downtown area.
They tried to buy the land for years, but Josephsen refused to sell. The village started pursuing condemnation through eminent domain in 2017.
Lentz said officials are "very happy" with the settlement, which paves the way for Mundelein to find a company to buy and redevelop the site.
"Things are going to move forward," he said.
Reached by phone Wednesday, Josephsen declined to comment.
As part of the settlement, the business can stay put until January 2020 while it establishes a new home.
Village Administrator John Lobaito on Monday thanked Josephsen for reaching an agreement.
"It's not an easy thing for him to do," Lobaito said.
Four trustees approved the deal: Scott Black, Ray Semple, Bill Rekus and Dawn Abernathy. Trustee Robin Meier voted "present" without explanation.
Trustee Kerston Russell was absent.