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Lisle approves purchase of two Garfield Avenue properties for downtown planning
Summary
The Lisle Village Board voted unanimously Oct. 6 to buy two privately held parcels on Garfield Avenue as part of longer-term downtown planning, authorizing budget amendments to cover acquisition and demolition costs.
The Village of Lisle on Oct. 6 approved purchase agreements for two privately held properties on Garfield Avenue, voting to buy 4703 Garfield Ave. for $830,000 and 4707 Garfield Ave. for $325,000 and to amend the budget to cover related demolition and site restoration costs.
The purchases were presented by Village Manager Cook as part of an effort to consolidate village-owned land near Prairie Walk Pond and downtown. The ordinances authorize budget amendments — $890,000 for the 4703 parcel and $365,000 for 4707 — that the village said will cover demolition, restoration and ancillary transaction costs.
Manager Cook said the acquisitions presented an opportunity to consolidate parcels the village already owns along the east side of Garfield Avenue and to allow “ample opportunity to conduct a larger planning process” for the area. The manager described the purchases as a step toward “what the future holds” for the downtown and flood‑prone parcels.
Trustees discussed the tax impacts of removing parcels from the tax rolls, particularly on School District 202. Trustee Lesniak urged that the board be “cognizant” of the shifting burden to residential taxpayers and asked the manager to place the rationale on the record. Trustee Olsen said the board should move quickly to implement the downtown master plan once the sites are assembled and suggested the village not sit on the parcels for years. Trustee Olsen and other trustees urged an RFP or design process to identify highest‑value programming for Garfield Pond and adjacent village‑owned parcels.
Trustees also asked staff to consider whether immediate demolition of commercial structures is necessary in case adaptive reuse options emerge during the design phase.
A motion to approve each ordinance carried on roll call with the mayor and all trustees voting yes. The village recorded the roll calls after the motions; each ordinance passed.
The acquisitions will allow the village to control contiguous parcels near the downtown and Prairie Walk Pond for future planning, although trustees emphasized follow‑up steps — a public design/RFP process and timely action to return value to residents — before demolition or redevelopment proceeds.
