Spande: 'Extraordinary amount of development' coming to Winfield
A redevelopment of the Prosek's Greenhouse property is one of several proposed projects that, if built, would provide Winfield with needed tax dollars.
Village President Erik Spande said during Thursday night's State of the Village address that an estimated $125 million in projects have been proposed for parcels in and near Town Center.
"This is an extraordinary amount of development for a village of 10,000 people," Spande said. "Our job is to bring these projects across the finish line and ensure they will work for Winfield residents and taxpayers."
The largest project is Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital's proposal to turn a section of Town Center south of the hospital campus into a medical and commercial district.
To the west of the 390-bed hospital, a parking deck would alleviate parking problems at CDH. Meanwhile, village hall would be torn down and moved to free space for more development near the Metra station.
The proposed development is within a tax increment financing district. So the increased property tax revenue would be reinvested in Town Center improvements and infrastructure, including a new village hall.
When the TIF district expires in 2027, the estimated $70 million development would generate property tax revenue for the village, school districts, park district and other entities.
But Winfield has yet to approve the project. And negotiations between the village and hospital on a development agreement have hit an impasse.
Spande said talks stalled because CDH, which is tax-exempt, wants to take two-thirds of the development off the tax rolls and compensate units of government for lost property tax revenue for a maximum of 25 years.
"This was disappointing, to say the least," said Spande, adding that he sent a letter to the hospital last month proposing two alternatives.
The first suggestion is to have a for-profit entity own and operate the new development. CDH then would have a long-term renewable lease on parking and office space.
If CDH takes properties off the tax rolls, Spande's other suggestion was to have the hospital compensate units of government for as long at it owns those properties.
Spande said he's yet to get a response to his letter.
But he said village officials understand they must be creative to find common ground. "I'm willing to listen to different ideas," he said.
Another project Spande highlighted during his speech was the redevelopment of the Prosek's Greenhouse property near Winfield.
A developer wants the village to annex the property at 28W140 High Lake Road and rezone the land so a three-story medical office building can be built there.
"I think all of us are kind of sad to see Prosek's go," Spande said. "I know I buy all my plants there every spring. But they are looking to sell."
Spande said the project "would probably be a good fit" for Winfield. However, CDH is opposing the project because it believes it would saturate the market for medical office buildings in the village.
Winfield has asked the developer and CDH to each provide a market analysis. "We want to be fair to everyone," Spande said.
Another project being reviewed is the Winfield Station apartments on the site of the former Winfield Fuel & Material Co. The $35 million plan calls for the construction of a five-story building with more than 150 luxury apartments along Winfield Road.