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Zion council unanimously approves three-month extension to Empyrean LLC redevelopment agreement
Summary
Council approved a three-month extension to the redevelopment agreement with Empyrean LLC to allow the developer additional time to revisit project scope amid shifting industrial market demand.
The Zion City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 19 to authorize a third amendment extending Empyrean LLC's redevelopment agreement (RDA) for three months to allow the developer and city staff to explore changing the planned industrial project's scope.
City staff said the original RDA, approved in October 2022, contemplated a roughly 700,000-square-foot industrial development with outdoor storage comprising a 464,000-square-foot cross-dock logistics building, a 262,000-square-foot multi-tenant industrial building, and a 200,000-square-foot outdoor storage area.
Chief Barton told the council that the Chicago industrial market has shifted since the last extension and that demand for logistics facilities has eased while interest in pharmaceutical, biomedical and research-technology space has increased. Barton and staff recommended a short extension to permit the developer to evaluate alternatives and present an amended agreement.
A motion to approve the third amendment was made by Commissioner Fisher and seconded by Commissioner McDowell. The clerk called the roll and announced the motion carried 5-0.
Council members expressed interest in seeing any amended project materials once available. The extension does not adopt new project terms; it only lengthens the RDA timeline to allow the parties to present a revised agreement within the extension period.
