“We are puzzled,” Bailey said. “We were so thrilled to have them here. (It was) a research and development (company) in an agricultural community, so I was definitely shocked.”
The departure also came as a surprise to the company’s landlord, Terry Howell, owner of Howell Buildings Company in Springfield.
“I don’t know why. I can’t get an answer why. I think it comes down to there was a key strategic change in their philosophy,” Howell said. “Unfortunately it affected this facility.”
Howell Buildings built the facility in seven months in 2012, specifically for the work Dupont would be doing.
“We built to their specs. It’s a rather specialized building,” Howell said.
The building is just less than 25,000 square feet and cost about $2.1 million to build, Howell said.
Dupont moved into the facility in December of 2012 and signed a 10-year lease on the building. Howell said the company will honor its lease.
“At least I have an 8½-year start on finding a new tenant,” Howell said.
Dupont has hired a national real estate firm to try and find a company to sublease the building, but Howell said that won’t be easy.
“Obviously the best suitor would be another corn research facility or company. There are several companies that do that, but not a lot of them that want to do that here in Champaign County,” Howell said.
The building has a cooler, lab, offices, meeting rooms, a cafe and about 16,000 square feet of space with high ceilings, Howell said.
Bailey mentioned the city might try to lure a food manufacturer or processor to the space. She said she is working with Union Township officials to get new zoning regulations in the works in case a new business does decide to locate in the building.
The township passed special zoning laws for Dupont, which will expire when it leaves.
“Hopefully there’s a better, more long-term tenant,” Howell said. “I know the community would look forward to that.”
Howell added that Champaign County and its ag community were fortunate to have Dupont locate in the area.
“We were all kind of proud of that from an ag standpoint,” he said.
But Bailey is looking toward the future.
“We are anxious to see someone new in the facility,” she said.
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