Trinity Services buys vacant building in New Lenox Commons
By Janet Lundquist jlundquist@stmedianetwork.com June 19, 2012 2:44PM
Updated: July 21, 2012 6:18AM
NEW LENOX — The big, empty building on Veterans Parkway in the New Lenox Commons will be occupied by a local non-profit organization that jumped on a recession deal too good to pass up.
Trinity Services, a Joliet-based organization that provides services and support programs for people with disabilities, is hoping to begin building out the inside of the 37,512-square-foot building in July.
Built in 2007 by Talak Developers, the building at 301 Veterans Parkway was originally meant for retail and offices, helping to fulfill the village leaders’ vision for shops and cafes in the pedestrian-friendly downtown area they created.
When the economy dipped, Talak ran into financial trouble. Trinity Services bought the building last year in a short sale.
The building was sold in March 2011 for $2.3 million, according to Will County assessment records.
Art Dykstra, president of Trinity Services, said the organization paid substantially less than the building was initially worth.
“You feel bad for the folks on the other end of it,” he said, but added that the organization, which has had its share of financial woes in the weak economy, will benefit greatly from the deal.
Consolidating staff from five offices into that building will allow the organization to stop leasing five different buildings, Dykstra said.
Trinity staff members were set to meet Tuesday with New Lenox officials, an architect and a builder to finalize the plans for the interior, he said.
Unlike some Crest Hill Council members, who were not shy about expressing their disappointment over a loss of tax revenue after the Diocese of Joliet bought a never-occupied shopping center on Weber Road, New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann said he was happy to see Trinity moving in.
There is plenty of room left in the commons for retail and restaurants, he said.
“Not only are there a couple lots right there, but another 18 to 30 acres the village is looking at,” he said, adding that the village has budgeted funds to create a master plan that will serve as a blueprint for future development in the commons.
This fall the village board will likely begin work on the plan, which will encompass land in the commons down to Route 30 and west of Nelson Road near Jewel, said Village Administrator Kurt Carroll.
Regardless of the pace of future development, village officials are pleased the existing building will finally be finished.
“It’ll be good to see it occupied, you hate to see it sitting there like that because it’s a beautiful building,” Baldermann said.
