The Kane County Board is taking a new look at the future of a nearly 32-acre county-owned property along Fabyan Parkway in Geneva, once home to the Kane County Corrections complex.
The site housed the county jail beginning in 1972 until the facility was demolished in 2016. Today, the property includes the historic Amasa White House and is used for storage, a 427-foot 911 communications tower and an impound lot.
Over the years, county leaders have considered a wide range of redevelopment ideas — from a resort hotel and a new county government center to a community garden paired with agri-solar development. Most recently, a consultant evaluated whether 11 to 25 acres of the property could support a community solar project.
Community solar allows residents or organizations to subscribe to a portion of energy generated by a shared solar installation. Subscribers then receive credits on their electric bills for the power produced by their share, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
In a separate analysis, a real estate consultant completed a broker opinion of value for the site. Strengths include its Geneva location, frontage along Fabyan Parkway with a signalized intersection, and proximity to residential, industrial, and commercial areas. Challenges include current rural residential zoning, demolition costs, and nearby uses such as a former landfill. The consultant identified industrial development as the most viable option if the property were sold.
During a December Committee of the Whole meeting, the County Board was presented with four potential paths forward:
Sell the entire property, with an estimated value of $2.9 to $4 million
Sell the front portion along Fabyan Parkway and develop a solar field on the remaining 22 acres, with an estimated total value of $3.5 to $4 million, including lease revenue
Sell the front portion, build a solar field, and keep part of the land vacant for future county use, estimated at $2.1 to $2.6 million
Keep the front portion vacant and use the back acreage for solar, with an estimated value just under $2.3 million
Lease payments for a solar installation could range from $3,500 to $9,500 per acre annually, with potential electricity savings of $20,000 to $38,000 per year for county facilities.
No final decisions have been made as discussions continue.