Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Macomb on Verge of Filling Former Kmart Building

Rich Egger
The former Kmart building in Macomb has sat empty for nearly five years.

City leaders said AMERCO Real Estate Company plans to buy the building that mostly recently housed Kmart at 1325 East Jackson Street.

AMERCO will convert into it a mini-warehouse and storage facility. The building will also serve as a U-Haul center -- AMERCO is the parent company of U-Haul.

Community Development Coordinator John Bannon said the changes will improve the look of the property, which has been vacant since the fall of 2016.

“This turns it into a vibrant, occupied space that will generate sales tax to some degree, generate property tax, and it will be an asset to its neighbors,” Bannon said.

“That’s a good development and a good improvement upon where we are right now.”

He said the business will have 300-500 indoor, climate controlled storage units. It will also sell hitches, packing materials, and other items, but he said for the most part it will be a storage facility.

AMERCO must still finalize acquisition of the building from current owner Transform Saleco, and the city council must approve a special use permit for the business.

Bannon said the city has been working with the Macomb Area Economic Development Corporation to find a new use for the building. He said he is happy AMERCO is interested in coming to Macomb.

‘We have conversations with people all the time. But in terms of a solid proposal that actually made it across our desks, this is the only thing that I think was a really probable development that we’ve had in front of us,” Bannon said.

“I think this is the best path forward for that property at this time.”

AMERCO is a national company. Its businesses include a U-Haul center in Galesburg.

Tri States Public Radio produced this story.  TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.
 

Rich is TSPR's News Director.