Dayspring Bible College proposes to buy and renovate former CFI Industries campus; board refers project to planning commission

Dayspring Bible College representatives told the Long Grove Village Board they want to buy and renovate the long-vacant former CFI Industries headquarters and turn it into a residential campus for their students.

"We've taken a derelict property and revitalized it," Jim Scutter, pastor and president of the college, said during a presentation describing a phased renovation that would initially house about 100–125 students and ultimately accommodate as many as 300. He said the building is roughly 120,000 square feet, has many broken windows and interior damage from vandalism, and that the college would restore landscaping and repair structural systems.

The board’s referral is procedural: trustees voted to send the concept to the village’s plan commission and zoning board of appeals for a formal application and public hearing rather than act on it at the meeting. Trustee Browski moved to refer the item; Trustee Chrit Meer seconded, and the motion carried.

Why it matters: The property is a large, formerly occupied office headquarters with roughly 400 existing parking spaces and a long history of vandalism and trespass; neighbors say its condition has attracted illegal activity. If approved by the plan commission and ultimately by the village board, the change would convert a commercial office use into an institutional/residential campus and could affect traffic, parking and services in the area.

Details of the proposal: Scutter said the plan would be phased to match financing and demand. The initial phase would refurbish roughly half the building to house the college’s current on-site population of about 100 students; a later phase could expand that to 300 students. He said the college would run buses, expects many students not to own cars, and anticipates less daily vehicle traffic than when the building was used as an office.

On financing, Scutter said the college expects a combination of proceeds from the sale of other property, fundraising, reserves and a local benefactor who has offered an interest-free loan. He estimated the total purchase and renovation could be about $7 million and described an initial $3.5 million interest-free loan commitment from a benefactor who lives in Long Grove.

Neighbors and enforcement concerns: Adjacent residents who spoke at the meeting described repeated trespass and vandalism at the site and said they support redevelopment. "We firmly believe the development that's being proposed would be an asset to the community," said neighbor Bob Steinm, who lives in the Glenstone subdivision. Board and staff members asked for details on traffic, parking capacity and timing; staff explained that the evening was an initial presentation and that any zoning or land-use changes would require a formal application and public hearings before the plan commission.

Next steps: The board’s action sends the proposal to the plan commission and zoning board of appeals for study, public notice and a formal hearing. No zoning change, permit or sale was approved at the meeting.