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Senator Sally Turner and Mayor
Tracy Welch announces proposed plans for the Lincoln Developmental
Center property
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[February 22, 2025]
On Friday morning, Illinois Senator Sally Turner and
Lincoln Mayor hosted a press conference in the parking lot of the
Mill on 66 Museum with the power plant of the Lincoln Developmental
Center as their backdrop. Joining the two for the conference were
Ward 3 Alderowman Wanda Lee Rohlfs, Lincoln Fire Chief Ty Johnson,
City Clerk Peggy Bateman, Logan County Tourism Director Alice Roate
McCray and Lincoln Economic Advancement Development Director Andrea
Runge.
The session began with Welch offering some history on
the Lincoln Developmental Center and saying that Governor JB
Pritzker has included in his budget proposal for 2026 monies that
will demolish abandoned state-owned properties and make them “shovel
ready” for development.
Lincoln Developmental Center (LDC) is on the short list of
properties the governor’s proposal will address.
Welch offered history of the building recounting that
the property was originally opened in 1877 as “an asylum for feeble
minded children.” The property had a series of names, and the last
name was the LDC designation in 1975. He said the campus closed in
2002, causing hardship for the residents and their families as well
as the community via loss of jobs and economic stability.
He said that the property is now on that short list for demolition
which will then turn the location into an ideal foundation for
economic development through business, industry and/or housing.
Welch said this was a big step for the community and he is grateful
that the state has at last seen that something needs to be done with
the derelict properties.
It was also noted that excluding the property that is being
developed by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, there is
approximately 100 acres of land open for future opportunities.
Senator Turner also addressed the group, explaining
that she had brought two bills before the senate that would have an
impact in her 44th district and in Lincoln and Logan County. She was
behind the demolition of the property and had also submitted a
request to the governor’s office that the property be turned over to
the city of Lincoln for future development.
Turner said she was optimistic about the future of the site, but
also well aware of past promises not brought to fruition. She added
that while she had issues with other areas of the proposed budget,
she supported the $500 million designation for abandoned properties
completely.
She noted that Lincoln and Logan County have taken
some hard blows in recent years including the closure of Lincoln
College, and the uncertain future of the Logan Correctional Center.
She had spoken with the governor directly and he assured you that he
had not forgotten Logan County. She said she is hopeful and thankful
for this latest announcement and will work to ensure that the money
remains in the budget for the projects listed.
After the official speeches, Welch and Turner fielded questions
about the properties. Welch was asked about goals for the property,
and he said that there were many opportunities with that kind of
property. The land, part of which adjoins Business Route 55 is in an
ideal location for business and industry. There have also been
attempts to secure portions of the land for the veteran tiny home
project and other veteran projects.
Turner also heard saying that the property has great potential
because of the access to rail that skirts the property, the
proximity to highways including State Routes 10 and 121, and
Interstate 55/155.
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Turner was asked about her request to turn the
property over to the city once it is shovel ready. She said she had
indeed put that in her bill and is going to be working to make that
happen.
Regardless of the final ownership of the property, removing the
abandoned building is going to be removing an eyesore that is highly
visible to visitors to the community, as was noted by Welch. He said
that it is the first impression of Lincoln on motorists coming in
from the south and does not speak well to the community. When the
run-down buildings are gone, that in itself will be an improvement.
Lincoln Daily News was the only local news source on
hand for the event, but there were several television crews on hand
as well. Turner was asked a few questions about the Logan
Correctional Center, which she answered but then drove the
conversations back to the topic at hand.
Turner also introduced Andrea Runge with Lincoln Economic
Advancement and Development (LEAD) and said LEAD has been working
hard to bring economic growth to Lincoln. Turner is confident that
LEAD will be interested in working to further economic growth via
the newly available properties.
The money for the demolition is in the 2026 budget, which has not
yet officially passed. Turner was asked where the cuts would come
from in the state budget that would allow for this big dollar
proposal. She said there were items that had already been greatly
reduced in the budget such as support for undocumented aliens and
there could and would be others.
The budget, if passed would take effect on July 1, 2025. At this
early stage, no timeline for work was announced on Friday.
VIDEO – Speech regarding the demolition of
Lincoln Developmental Center by Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch
VIDEO – Illinois Senator Sally
Turner addresses the governor’s
announcement of money for demolition of abandoned state properties,
including Lincoln Developmental Center
[Nila Smith]
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