GALESBURG, Ill. — Galesburg City Council voted to purchase three empty lots off of Main Street on Monday, June 3.
Located at 57 N Kellogg St. and 332 E Ferris St., the lots surround Trinity Lutheran Church. Pastor Carrie Carnes said the vacant properties make the church look less welcoming than she'd like.
"We're surrounded on either side by a crumbling parking lot and by weeds," Carnes said. "It’s sad first of all becuase it’s a space that could be used by the community, both our community and the larger community. But then it’s also just kind of an eyesore."
But the lots aren't just an eyesore; Director of Community Involvement Steve Gugliotta said they're contaminated. For more than 100 years, they were occupied by a laundromat that leeched chemicals into the ground. The building was demolished in 2007, leaving the lots to sit vacant.
Now, Gugliotta said the city is taking a more active approach.
"The city's goal at this point is to apply for an EPA Multipurpose Grant that we believe will be open later this year," Gugliotta said.
The city has to own the properties to apply for the grant, prompting city council to vote on the purpose. That grant will provide funds to clean up the contamination and redevelop the lots.
Gugliotta said the Illinois EPA inspected the site last year. It found the contamination is contained to the ground and is not at risk of spreading.
"As we get closer to the application stage, we'll have more discussions and get more input on what could potentially be a viable option for the use of this property," he said.
Pastor Carnes already has a few ideas.
"There is a park across that street that is beautiful, and I notice it is used a lot," Carnes said. "And so I wonder if we continued kind of having that park space or having green space into this area."
She hopes it'll be a space everyone can enjoy.
"I believe that Galesburg has an incredible, vibrant community, and so all we can do to continue to reinforce that is a gift to our downtown spaces," Carnes said.
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