Former Lincoln Developmental Center (Lincoln, Illinois)

USA / Illinois / Lincoln / Lincoln, Illinois
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This site was a former state school for severely handicapped children, at one time housing several hundred and employing hundreds of people. Like many such sites it was closed (in 2002 I believe) under pressure that it did not provide modern standards of care. There was some history of neglect as well.

The infamous Governor Blagojevich pledged to reopen the site and several beautiful buildings were built to be used as group homes. However, due to Illinois' budget problems they have never been used.

As of 2009 this huge site sits vacant although heat and power are maintained to the buildings and there is a constant security presence. Hard to imagine what could be located here.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   40°8'25"N   89°22'51"W

Comments

  • One building, in the NW corner of this site, has been renovated to store state records. Some police training activities have been held here, and the local YMCA plays a few youth soccer games on the grounds. Otherwise, this huge site still sits empty. Continues to look to be in fairly decent shape, but few prospects for use or redevelopment.
This article was last modified 10 years ago