City of Belleville lays out plan for former Lindenwood campus with four new tenants
The former Lindenwood University campus in Belleville will become a “mecca” for law-enforcement training, according to officials who spoke at a news conference after a special City Council meeting on Monday.
Aldermen had just voted to approve agreements with four tenants, including Southwestern Illinois College, which will move its police academy to the new Belleville Educational Complex on West Main Street.
The Illinois State Police will open an institute for forensic science and criminal investigation, and the Southern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission will offer continuing-education classes for police officers, officials said.
Beyond law enforcement, the Southwest Illinois Jets Basketball Club will use the complex’s two gyms for its youth training and mentoring programs.
“This is a great day for Belleville,” said Mayor Patty Gregory, describing the plan as an example of what can be accomplished when government leaders and community residents work together.
Gregory gave particular thanks to seven citizens who formed a committee to help figure out what to do with the complex after Lindenwood left in 2020.
‘It’s a good start’
The committee explored “creative” ways to utilize the complex’s space and coordinated with the four tenants that are moving in, according to member Annette Eckert, a retired St. Clair County judge.
“It’s not going to fill the whole thing, but it’s a good start,” said her husband, Bill Enyart, former U.S. congressmen for the 12th District, who also served on the committee.
Other members included Otto Roberts, Bill Stiehl, Tom Farquhar, Roy Lantry and Tom Calhoun.
The massive brick complex at 2300 W. Main St. originally housed Belleville Township High School and later Belleville West. Missouri-based Lindenwood operated a satellite campus from 2003 to 2020. The city bought the property in August for $3 million.
Ten out of 16 alderman attended the special meeting on Monday, enough for a quorum. They voted unanimously to approve the four tenant agreements.
The celebratory mood at Belleville City Hall was evident, starting in the lobby. A vase of giant pink tulips stood on an spring-themed reception table with cupcakes, cookies and bottled water.
“It’s amazing what Mayor Gregory did in seven months,” said Ward 7 Alderman Phil Elmore. “... She made it happen.”
Belleville Educational Complex is a temporary name, according to Kathleen Kaiser, the city’s PR/communications manager. Officials will come up with a permanent one in the future.
Services in lieu of rent
Southwestern Illinois College is a community college based in Belleville with satellite campuses in Granite City and Red Bud. It operates one of the largest police academies in Illinois, said President Nick Mance. Up to 300 students graduate each year.
The academy will move from SWIC’s main campus on Carlyle Avenue to Belleville Educational Complex. Plans still are evolving, so it’s not known how much space will be needed, Mance said.
The academy also will make use of two Lindenwood dorms to house students from outside the region.
“We are as big as we can get at the SWIC campus, and (moving to West Main) will give us an opportunity to double our enrollment,” said Van Muschler, academy director.
SWIC won’t pay rent for classrooms and offices. Under its intergovernmental agreement with the city of Belleville, it will provide maintenance, security, custodial and other management services at the complex.
Paying up front
The Southern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission is a nonprofit, government-funded corporation that provides continuing education for 1,800 police officers in seven counties.
The commission has operated out of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department building in Belleville for about 25 years.
“We needed more space, and (the Lindenwood vacancy) was the perfect opportunity to make this a law-enforcement mecca in the metro-east and the city of Belleville,” said Director David Hayes.
The commission has agreed to lease 1,650 square feet of classroom and office space in the Alan J. Dixon Student Center building at a rate of $25,000 a year for 10 years. It will pay the entire $250,000 now using a grant from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, Hayes said.
The Illinois State Police already operates the Metro East Forensic Science Laboratory at 2220 W. Main St. in Belleville. It plans to expand training programs for forensic scientists and criminal investigators.
The agency’s institute will occupy 4,416 square feet of office, classroom and laboratory space in the main building at Belleville Educational Complex under its five-year intergovernmental agreement.
Rent will cost $68,000 the first year with a 2% increase each subsequent year.
Gregory read a brief statement from Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, who wasn’t able to attend the news conference. He promised more details on the agency’s plans at a later time.
‘Dream come true’
Southwestern Illinois Jets Basketball Club is a nonprofit organization that trains and mentors youths through a traveling team.
The organization has entered into a five-year lease agreement to use two gyms, offices and locker rooms at Belleville Educational Complex with a five-year renewal option.
The teams have have been rotating around different facilities for games and practices, according to President Steve Lanter.
“This is a dream come true ... that we actually have a place to call home,” he said at the news conference. “We’ve been thinking about this for a long time.”
The organization’s rent will be $75,000 the first year with an 1% increase each subsequent year. Its facility-use agreement with the city of Belleville is non-exclusive, meaning other athletic events can be held in the gyms, allowing the city to generate additional revenue, Elmore said.
This story was originally published March 1, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
