Illinois lawmakers wrapped up the spring legislative session at the beginning of this month with some uncertainty still looming for the future of the Jacksonville Developmental Center. There has been no shortage of discussion regarding the future of the grounds especially after the announcement of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Surplus to Success program, an initiative for economic development led by the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) to transform unused or underutilized state-owned properties into productive assets that can drive job creation, attract private investment, and revitalize communities.
State Rep. CD Davidsmeyer says it was exciting to see the dollars in the budget for the JDC grounds last year but, unfortunately those dollars were never spent. He says he’s still optimistic as the money remains in the state’s budget to redevelop those grounds and other abandoned properties throughout Illinois. “I think it certainly seems promising that it remains in the budget,” Davidsmeyer said, “We’ve seen that slide of hand before where they tell us they’re going to do something, they put it in the budget but, they decide not to spend the dollars.”
Davidsmeyer remarked on Pritzker passing the largest budget in the state’s history in regards to the feasibility of finding the money to redevelop the dilapidated grounds in the center of the city of Jacksonville. “When you’re talking about the largest budget in state’s history, we’ve gone from 40 billion to 56 billion dollars in six years, the state certainly should be able to find 300 million dollars in that budget to fund closing up these properties, and making them useful again.”
The state rep from Murrayville says he continues to encourage the state of Illinois to do the right thing and take care of the these properties. He added that during the spring session he learned that CSM has continued discussion on the JDC grounds as well as areas in Joliet and Lincoln but, still no final word on the future of those properties.