By Lee Provost
lprovost@daily-journal.com
815-937-3364

Photo: Mike Voss
This single family home at 1932 Tallgrass Turn is one of the properties to be auctioned Saturday.

A project that started with a bang when announced in 2005 is now at a whimper with several of the units going up for public auction.

Beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, the auction at the Matteson Holiday Inn will be conducted by Rick Levin & Associates, Inc., of Chicago, to sell three single-family homes, four townhomes and one partially developed lot.

Levin said regardless of price, one house and one townhouse will absolutely be sold Saturday. He said if prices do not meet the sellers expectations beyond that, the dwellings could be pulled off the auction block.

"I have to tell you, interest has been very light," Levin said. "This is a tremendous opportunity for someone."

Even though time is obviously short, Levin said arrangements can still be made to view the bank-owned properties and people should call him at (773) 252-4500.

These properties — in the Prairie Walk residential development immediately east of the Splash Valley Aquatic Park along River Road — were once part of a development believed to be a key component of a massive residential project around Kankakee Community College.

When announced on that cold, gray February day more than four-and-a-half years ago, the development was described as a "lifestyle destination."

Kankakee Mayor Nina Epstein, who attended that festive ribbon-cutting ceremony as an alderwoman, said what the development is now versus what it was anticipated to be is obviously disappointing.

"It was introduced with a lot of fanfare, but there are many reasons why it didn't work. … But I am not without hope. I still believe that south Kankakee area is viable (for residential)."

The ambitious 1,000-acre development was to ultimately feature 2,000 houses, a municipally run golf course, an amphitheater, a marina and locations for a school and fire station among other projects.

There were immediate setbacks, including a snafu when property to be traded by the Kankakee Valley Park District could not be swapped because of restrictions on the original deed. Today there are only several houses scattered throughout the mostly vacant subdivision.

In theory, if only a $1 bid is made on a property, it would have to be sold for that price. Levin said if that happened that would be a very sad statement.

"I'm sorry to see it (come to an auction)," Epstein said. "My hope is that this can be the starting point of it coming back again. … I'm certainly not throwing in the towel by any means."