Some people call it an eyesore, and others know it as a landmark, but now the Village of Bartonville is taking legal actions to force ownership and tear down the former Allied Mills factory.
The pet food company was built in 1920 just south of Bartonville off Route 24. It was known as the largest feed mill in the world but now is completely vacant.
“[The building] is probably the most complained about thing we have in the village,” said Bartonville Mayor Leon Ricca. “It’s been frustrating for 20 years.”
After switching between several owners, the well over 100-foot building is now owned by Lord Mic Johnson, according to Ricca.
Ricca said, two years ago, when Congresswoman Cheri Bustos was still in office, she planned to help secure a grant to demolish the former factory. However, Lord Mic wouldn’t turn over ownership.
Instead, Bustos used that grant money to help the City of Peoria tear down McKinley and Harrison schools.
Ricca said Lord Mic receives a daily fine of $750 for ignored enforcement notices and has accrued over $100,000.
Mayor Ricca said because Bartonville does not own the property, village staff can’t demolish it. Now, legal action is in motion to force village ownership.
“We’ve been there once, but he had a continuance. He asked for a continuance, and he got that, so you know, he’s got the same right as everybody else; got a continuance to figure out his plan,” Ricca said.
Ricca said he’s also working with Congressman Eric Sorensen’s office to get possession of the building. Once the village owns it, Mayor Ricca can seek federal money to help pay for the demolition, expected to cost $1.5 to $2 million.
“I’m not worried about it falling over like some people are, but that’s going to be something when we do tear it down, we’ll have to arrange with the Department of Transportation because [Route] 24 will have to be closed when it comes down,” said Ricca.
Ricca has no timeline for a possession ruling or a plan for that property once the building is gone.
“We would ask for business plans so that the company that would want the property would be the best fit for the village and the most revenue for the village,” Ricca said.
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