The company is expected to move into the expanded space in July. The expanded space will be used for training rooms and additional meeting rooms. "Their operations have increased over time and they have maxed out the space," Weidemann says. This is American Water's second expansion at the site and the company employs about 500 people at the center. In 2005, the company expanded its space from 42,500 sf by 3,900 sf and, last year, the original five-year lease was extended until 2011.

Alton Center Business Park is a 150-acre mixed-use development at the intersection of Illinois Route 143 and Broadway being developed by Clark Properties, headquartered in St. Louis, and Clayco Construction Co., also based in St. Louis. The site was formerly occupied by the Owens-Illinois Glass Bottle Plant, which was abandoned in 1993. Two of the buildings, with about 450,400 sf, were renovated, with American Water occupying part of one of the renovated buildings.

Besides American Water, there is a manufacturing company that recently signed a lease for 122,400 sf with 262,000 sf still available, Weidemann says. Weidemann says he cannot disclose the name of the manufacturing tenant at this time. There is also currently 75 acres of land available for new development. "We have been focusing on the existing buildings and trying to get them leased up," he says. The park, when completed, will have an estimated value between $80 million and $100 million.