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| Mayor Infuriated Over Logistics Park Developer Pullout |
Galesburg's top elected official is furious over the pullout of the two firms tasked with developing Logistics Park Galesburg.
Mayor Gary Smith says he received word via e-mail Wednesday that CenterPoint Properties and Mercantile Partners would be resigning from a three-year agreement to develop the Logistics Park inbetween Galesburg and Knoxville, just a year or so into the deal. They blamed market conditions forcing them to focus on other projects.
Smith tells WGIL he doesn't have a problem with what CenterPoint wants to do, he just has a problem with how they told the city about it. "What business model they want to pursue is their own choice," Smith said. "I think they way they did it was very unprofessional, and I wish they would have had the courtesy of actually coming down and explaining this to us instead of doing it by e-mail with no phone call to the mayor, or to the city manager whatsoever."
Smith says he's tried to get CenterPoint to come to a council meeting and update aldermen, and says they backed out of one meeting, and since they're resigning, won't come to one they said they'd be at Monday night -- and he says that's just a few of the most recent alleged stall tactics.
The CenterPoint e-mail refers to Burlington Northern Santa Fe pulling out of a proposed blocking facility project in Galesburg, claiming it lessened interest in the Logistics Park.
Smith says he doesn't understand what CenterPoint means, because even since CenterPoint resigned, BNSF has assured him that expansion in Galesburg is a top priority.
CenterPoint Properties has not returned WGIL's telephone calls seeking comment. |
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| 10 30 08 by Newsroom |
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