(Note: This story has been updated with reaction from Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman.)
A local developer has pulled his bid to purchase the former Churchill Junior High School from the City of Galesburg.
Extreme Car Wash Holdings, LLC — owned by Benedict — had submitted a bid of $100,000 to purchase a portion of the now city-owned property at 905 Maple Ave. Benedict tells WGIL the offer was contingent on the City Council expediting the process and approving his bid at Monday’s Council meeting.
The Council discussed Benedict’s bid on first reading Monday, however there was no vote taken on suspending the rules and voting on the bid. The Council was likely to vote on the bid on second reading on Aug. 21.
“I pulled my bid this morning,” Benedict said Tuesday. “I told them ahead of time I absolutely needed an answer last night, due to a tenant needing space in the building.
“I’m very disappointed, and I’m done with this project. I will not reconsider.”
Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman said, “I am sorry he pulled his bid. I appreciated the bid and Mr. Benedict’s support of many ventures in our city.
“I had no idea that this sale was on a ‘short time’ schedule. I reached out to Mr. Benedict last Wedneday and he did not make that known to me. I am not sure whom he communicated this to.”
Benedict said he was working with an undisclosed educational firm from Chicago that would subcontract with School District 205 to use a 10,000 square foot portion of Churchill. He said the tenant wanted to be in the building by Jan. 1, 2024, and that construction on the 905 Maple Ave. building needed to start immediately.
According to the agenda item, Benedict also proposed to work with the Ascent Church to lease space in the building until its new facility is constructed. Benedict said Tuesday that he had paused negotiations with the Ascent Church until he knew he had secured the building.
Previously: City: Costa does not have deal to use Churchill, but remains open to agreement
Costa Catholic Academy, which is looking for a temporary location to conduct classes due to extensive rain-caused damage to its building on Costa Drive, has expressed interest in the use of Churchill, but Benedict said he has not been involved in that process.
“I have no idea about Costa,” Benedict said. “I’ve never talked to anybody from Costa.”
Benedict said he envisioned transforming Churchill into a multi-use building “to help others.”
“This was not about Rob Benedict — it was about doing something good for Galesburg,” he said.
According to Benedict, he was one of about 20 local developers that city administration contacted while soliciting interest in the sale of Churchill.
Benedict said he did not make an offer on Churchill during the open bid process because he did not approve of the bid stipulations.
“They contacted me, I didn’t contact the city on this,” he said. “They asked why I didn’t make an initial bid on it, and I said I didn’t like the two-year guarantee for a project completion date. Nobody can guarantee interest rates or anything like that.
“They could have bought it back for 50% of what I paid for it. That just wasn’t a good investment.”
Benedict toured Churchill and said “it’s in great condition.” He said he could have had Churchill at 80% capacity by Jan. 1. He notes his plan was to hire a firm to do an environmental study to assess air quality of the building.
Benedict denies accusations that he has been working with City Council members to broker a deal, saying “That’s absolutely false.”
“I’m just really, really disappointed in all the pettiness and energy wasted.” Rob Benedict.
“I’m just really, really disappointed in all the pettiness and energy wasted,” Benedict said. “The city has $100,000 invested so far, but I’d say you can triple that with all the wasted energy that city administration have had to face with this.
“And I wasted two weeks of my life on it. I’m just no longer interested. It could have been win-win for everyone.”
Churchill was once approved as the location for a community center by the previously-seated City Council, however aldermen approved an ordinance on June 5 directing staff to sell the former Churchill school. City administration says the sale of the property would eliminate the need for city maintenance of the property (i.e. weed mowing) and utility costs, and at the same time place the property back on the property tax roll.
Interim City Manager Wayne Carl told WGIL last week the building is still for sale and the city will continue to actively recruit purchasers for the site. Interested parties can contact the Community Development director and he will provide them the information they need to submit an offer for the building. He will also provide a tour of the building to interested parties as requested.
Schwartzman revealed at Monday’s meeting that he has spoken with an out-of-town party that might be interested in utilizing the roof portion of Churchill for solar energy.
