This page shows news articles related to specific greenways and communities.
All News Clips
| Back to List | |
| DuPage forest district to get Country Lakes Golf Course | |
| Dec 14, 2007 | |
| Jake Griffin, Staff Reporter jgriffin@dailyherald.com | |
| Daily Herald | |
| Pertains to IPP - Aurora Branch, Naperville, Aurora | |
| A few years ago, the DuPage County Forest Preserve offered to buy the Country Lakes Golf Course and some surrounding property for $12 million. Late Wednesday, they got the 204-acre parcel in northwest Naperville for $10.7 million. A jury in the forest preserve's condemnation suit against Robert Krilich Sr. awarded the district the land for its appraised price. Krilich was seeking $20 million for the property, according to DuPage County Forest Preserve Board Chairman Dewey Pierotti. Attempts to reach Krilich and his associates for comment Thursday were unsuccessful. "Our attorney said that's really unheard of for a jury to go with the lower appraisal, and we offered him $12 million," Pierotti said. "Years later, with all the costs and expenses added to it, he's getting $1.25 million less than we offered him. In my lifestyle, that's a big number." The district first began condemnation proceedings in 1999 under the auspices of storm water needs. "Obviously we're very happy with the results and it will be a wonderful addition to the forest preserve," said Carl Schultz, the forest preserve commissioner whose district the lands sits in. "It's nice to have the court case finalized, but I don't know what other things that are in store." Krilich could appeal the verdict, which could stave off the forest preserve's acquisition of the property for some time. Commissioner Roger Kotecki believes that's a likely proposition. "Frankly, given how much this landowner has been willing to go through up to this point, we won't be surprised if he appeals," he said. Pierotti said the golf course land was appraised at about $4.5 million and another 40-acre parcel that was under contract at the time of the condemnation proceedings was appraised at $6.3 million. He said Krilich attempted to inflate the value of the 40-acre parcel because of its development potential, but the judge threw out that price tag because of the pending sale figure. Pierotti said the forest preserve has been discussing use options with Naperville park and city officials. He said the forest district doesn't have the manpower to operate the golf course and would likely partner with Naperville in some capacity to maintain operations once the district takes custody of the land. The district has the money banked to purchased the property, district officials said. |
»»»»»
Greenway Trails
» » »Existing
» » »Project
» » »Potential
Greenway Maps
» » »by Agency
» » »by Scope
Community Systems
» » »Active
» » »Typical
» » »Sedentary
» » »Dead-end
Grade Separations
» » »Existing
» » »Needed
Trail Development
» » »News
» » »Events
Greenway Advocacy Materials
Bicycle Underpass/Overpass Gallery
About Greenway Planning Database
About Steve Breese
PalatineRoad.com
Contact Steve Breese
Greenway Links
ArlingtonTrotters.com
Fast Track Racing Team
COGO
Technical Corner