The Tinley Park Mental Health Center property was closed in July 2012.

TINLEY PARK, IL—State officials announced on Thursday that the planned sale of the Howe Development Center and adjoining Tinley Park Mental Health Center here is moving forward.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and State Senator Michael E. Hastings announced that the state will secure the third and final appraisal needed by law to offer the vacant, surplus properties in Cook County for sale.

"After delays spanning several administrations, I'm glad that we are moving forward today to give new life to this property and bring much-needed economic development to the area," said Gov. Pritzker. "Tinley Park has a bright future, and we're proud to partner with local stakeholders to revitalize communities across the state."

According to the State Property Control Act, the state can convey surplus properties to a local body of government who uses the property. Conveyances below market value are not currently allowed by law; therefore, the Department of Central Management Services cannot evaluate variables like maintenance cost and other aspects of risk mitigation as the basis for establishing an appropriate price at market, state officials noted.

"The governor, local officials, and I all agree that economic development for our communities should be our top priority," said Sen. Hastings. "That's why I found a partner in the Pritzker administration as I worked with the Village of Tinley Park to jumpstart this important effort. The Village of Tinley Park should control their own destiny when it comes to the economic development of the property."

The State of Illinois, through CMS, owns and manages the former Howe Development Center and Tinley Park Mental Health Center property. Howe was closed in July of 2010, and Tinley was closed in July of 2012. The properties were deemed of no future use to the State and declared surplus in December 2012.

CMS continues to secure the property while evaluating options for the sale of the property. In addition, CMS is working closely with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to assess the conditions on site and properly address any findings. An inspection by IEPA in December 2019, did not identify any immediate threats to off-site properties.