The Village of Glenview Board of Trustees will consider the purchase of the former Signode industrial campus at its Nov. 4 meeting, a significant step toward transforming one of Glenview’s largest vacant properties into a vibrant, community-centered amenity.

The 56-acre property, located at 3600-3700 West Lake Avenue, has been on the market since 2020 and vacant since 2022 following the closure of Signode’s industrial operations.

If approved, the Village would purchase the site for $23.375 million using available cash reserves. The Village will partner with the Glenview Park District and explore opportunities with other taxing districts, including local school districts, to guide the site’s redevelopment, long-term master plan and transformation into a recreation and open-space area.

While planning remains in the preliminary stages, initial concepts envision transforming the site into a multi-faceted recreation space, potentially including playgrounds, athletic fields, sports facilities, racquet sports, parks, trails, natural areas and open space.

The Village would initially fund the purchase, with costs reimbursed by the Park District and other potential partners as the project advances.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape the future of a centrally located, underused property in a way that serves the entire community,” said Village President Michael Jenny. “By working together, we can turn an idle industrial site into something greener, more sustainable, and more accessible for everyone, all while ensuring that local tax dollars are used wisely and collaboratively.”

Because the project is being paid for using cash reserves, the purchase would not create any new taxes or cuts to services.

If approved, the Village anticipates closing on the property in February, followed by demolition in the spring and site preparation in the fall.

Redevelopment would begin with a collaborative master planning process with the Park District. Public engagement opportunities will help shape the site’s future, and additional opportunities for complementary private development and retail uses could also be considered.

Glenview Park District Executive Director Michael McCarty said the redevelopment of the Signode campus presents numerous opportunities to expand access to open, green spaces and to enhance air and water quality throughout the community. The addition of land for recreational amenities would further the Park District’s goal of ensuring every resident lives within a 10-minute walk from a park.

“The Village and Park District have successfully partnered in the past creating Gallery Park as part of the Glen development. This project represents an exciting opportunity to collaborate once again with the Village to transform a vacant industrial site into a new vibrant community park and recreational amenity,” McCarty said. “We look forward to engaging with the community to determine how these new areas can best serve the public.”

Transforming an industrial campus into green, open space will also deliver long-term environmental benefits — reducing noise, traffic, and stormwater impacts while creating new opportunities for habitat restoration and natural resource preservation.

Residents are encouraged to attend the Nov. 4 Village Board meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Village Hall, 2500 East Lake Avenue, or watch the meeting live on Glenview Television (Channel 17 on Comcast) or stream it online at glenview.il.us.