Developer Was Set To Meet With LTHS Board Members

LA GRANGE, IL – Two Lyons Township High School board members were set to meet last year behind the scenes with an industrial developer interested in buying the school's wooded land in Willow Springs.

Last week, the high school released emails related to the property in response to a public records request.

In an April 28 email, Superintendent Brian Waterman thanked board members Jill Beda Daniels and Julie Swinehart for their agreement to take part in a meeting with Bridge Industrial and Lee & Associates, which handles Bridge's land deals.

The message was copied to board President Kari Dillon. The meeting was set for four days later.

On Tuesday, Patch left messages for comment with Daniels, Swinehart and Dillon.

Daniels and Dillon are seeking re-election next Tuesday. Swinehart has not answered Patch's inquiries about whether she plans to serve her entire term, which lasts until May 2025.

In February, Patch obtained emails between Bridge and Waterman. They showed the superintendent courting Bridge for eight months before the school let the public know it was interested in selling the land.

In March 2022, Bridge offered $65 million for the land, which it apparently believed was 80 acres. It was actually 71 acres.

Shortly after, the school got a land appraisal geared toward industrial uses. In fact, such uses are specifically barred under Willow Springs zoning. The school left officials from other public bodies, including the village, out of the loop.

The latest emails demonstrate board members were closely involved in the dealings with Bridge.

Although Willow Springs bars industrial uses, a school attorney said at a January meeting that "other remedies" were available if the village prevented industrial development. He did not say what the remedies were.

Five area towns, a school district and a park district have opposed industrial uses on the property.

Despite the controversy, all seven board members have stayed silent on the issue at board meetings for more than two months.

In January, Bridge bid $55 million, which was the board's minimum price. San Francisco-based Prologis put in for $46.5 million.

Recently, the school board revealed that Prologis, another industrial developer, bid $60.5 million for the land in February.

For now, the board has held off on selling the property.