2500 North Commerce Park in Decatur, Illinois — Courtesy: Weiss Realty
By Joshua Burd
Moonachie-based Weiss Realty has taken a key step toward redeveloping a site nearly 900 miles away, where it hopes to tap into the booming demand for new data center construction.
The firm announced that officials in Illinois have selected the property, 2500 North Commerce Park in Decatur, to participate in what’s known as the Accelerated Site Assessment Program in cooperation with Ameren, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and local economic development officials. That means the 138-acre site is now eligible for accelerated permitting, infrastructure coordination and reduced predevelopment timelines, part of a statewide initiative meant to help companies move more quickly from site selection to development by advancing the readiness of large-scale industrial properties.
Weiss said that provides key advantages for data center users — especially for a site that is fully approved and earmarked to support up to 274 megawatts and more than 800,000 square feet of data center development — as well as advanced manufacturing and logistics players.
“We are extremely excited and proud to see our property recognized as a priority development site for Illinois,” said Jaime M. Weiss, president of Weiss Realty. “Our goal is to make it easier for companies to move quickly and confidently. The ASAP Program strengthens the site’s readiness and enhances its appeal to users seeking power, scale and long-term growth potential.”
Weiss Realty acquired the Decatur property in 2003 and has long operated it as a large-scale industrial asset, the firm said. The site previously supported major industrial and warehousing operations, including a long-term facility occupied by Caterpillar for more than 15 years, before the industrial giant consolidated operations into a company-owned location.
With its history and current infrastructure planning, the site offers a rare, power-ready opportunity for energy-intensive operations seeking scalability and speed to market, Weiss said. Overall, the property supports flexible build-to-suit configurations for data centers and warehouse and distribution facilities, with ample land for phased expansion.
The commercial real estate firm added that 2500 North Commerce Park is adjacent to the Midwest Intermodal Inland Park and near major highways and the Decatur Airport.
