Health Facilities Planning Board approves plan for the former Lincoln Developmental Center site

"The former LDC site, with its 100 acres of wooded land, has so much to offer and is a valuable resource for the Lincoln area and the state," Gov. Blagojevich said. "Our plan is to create a new model of care that will offer something for all sectors of the community and not segregate persons with disabilities. This is certainly not going to be the LDC of the past."

There is $7 million in the Fiscal year 2005 budget for the Lincoln Estates project. No timeline is set for construction to begin on the homes that will provide state-operated developmental services for 40 persons. The next step is the bidding process which will begin immediately.

IDHS Secretary Carol L. Adams, Ph.D. formed the Lincoln Developmental Center Task Force in May, 2003. The goal of the task force is to build consensus as to what type of services will be provided at the closed State Operated Developmental Center (SODC) in Lincoln and what other services could be provided on the LDC campus. Representatives include parents, advocates, elected officials, other state departments and AFSCME.

"This is an important step toward realizing our vision of a disability-friendly setting that re-integrates LDC into the Lincoln community," Adams said. "We can now look forward to tearing down the old LDC and breaking ground on what will be a community with affordable living options, other state services, education and training opportunities and possibly recreational and cultural programs."

Adams said the task force will continue to meet to finalize details of the master plan and the construction of the housing units.