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* Jay Levine during the break…
Gov. Bruce Rauner is looking into moving his Chicago office from the James R. Thompson Center to the Michael A. Bilandic Building across the street.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports the governor said he wanted to complete a sale of the Thompson Center by late next year, but appears ready to move out a lot sooner.
A spokesman for the governor concedes “the Bilandic building is among the options being explored, but no decisions have been made.”
Two sources tell us the governor himself recently toured the building checking out possible new digs.
Sneed is told Rauner’s minions have spent a lot of time scurrying around the Bilandic Building’s 10th floor since the governor’s massively expensive tented vacation en famille on Morroco’s Saharan sands.
At a time when displaced families in southern Illinois are complaining about how the state stopped the home buyout program in their flood plain, this move probably isn’t a great idea.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:02 am
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You almost said it all, Rich, but when has Rauner ever had a great idea?
Comment by downstate commissioner Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:07 am
A man with 9 homes sees no problem looking to “upgrade” and spending his time looking at new digs while people with 900 square feet homes wonder when the water will recede and hope they can salvage their lives.
The trappings of the Goveror’s Office and the Governor’s comfort seem… a priority?
I guess the Bilandic Building might still have trash pickup, so there’s that too…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:10 am
What’s the rush?
Comment by Politix Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:10 am
The floors holding state government offices in Bilandic are pretty beat up. The building’s entryway is grand, but that’s about it. Granted, anything is better than Thompson.
Comment by Politix Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:12 am
It’s good to prioritize. Otherwise, you can waste months accomplishing absolutely nothing of importance.
And that just makes things worse.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:12 am
I had been told and saw security for the Big R doubled last January at 180 North LaSalle.
I never see security vehicles(SUV’s and sedans) at the locations on the east side of LaSalle.
You could tell the Gov was in the building when there were security vehicles on the east side of LaSalle since 1993.
He is only at the JRTC for the press.
Comment by gg Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:15 am
Dude isn’t doing his job. Does it matter from where he does not do it?
Comment by LizPhairTax Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:16 am
Michael A. Bilandic Building? Wasn’t Mike the ultimate political insider? Isn’t Bruce against all the political stuff?
Why not just move into the Commercial Club of Chicago?
Comment by Rollo Tamasi Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:18 am
At least Rauner can finally have a signature accomplishment to define his time as Governor.
Comment by Carhartt Representative Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:20 am
Hope they aren’t planning on a Dowton Abbey decor!
Comment by burbanite Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:25 am
Commentary like this is why nothing ever gets done in state government. The gov has made clear he plans to sell the JRTC and that means emptying it out. This move would save the state money.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:26 am
–A man with 9 homes sees no problem looking to “upgrade” and spending his time looking at new digs while people with 900 square feet homes wonder when the water will recede and hope they can salvage their lives.–
So true, which is why all the fawning over improvements at the Mansion in Springfield seem more than a little overblown.
I bet the regular folks on the North and East sides of Springfield sure are glad the decorative spindles at the Rauner family’s tenth residence will be fully restored in 2016!
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:28 am
To make myself clear …
Rauner and his personal staff never moved into JRTC.
I has been just a show.
Comment by gg Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:30 am
“Commentary like this is why nothing ever gets done in state government.”
You new around here? You should have seen it during Rod’s last term. The Gov and his peeps have seen nothing yet if you think this is bad.
Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:33 am
Actually, Rauner has said he WANTS to sell it. This isn’t private industry where the bosses wish just happens. He has to jump through a bunch of legal and procedural hoops first. He can move once the sale is underway or after the sale. It’s not like there are thousands of people clamoring to move into the JRTC immediately.
Comment by RNUG Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:34 am
” - Anonymous - ” (Ugh)
Illinois is closing in to the $7-9 billion in the rears range.
Can a JRTC sale and the ridiculous moving across the street… just for the Governor… make that debt go down by a large chunk?
Hmm.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:34 am
Who gets tossed a MAB? Child care, Public Aid lawyers? And the tab for sprucin’ it up
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:48 am
“This move would save the state money.”
Illinois long ago moved past the point beyond which such claims must be supported by mathematics.
Show your work.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:51 am
If they aren’t using the offices, why do they need offices at all? Now that would be a savings.
Comment by burbanite Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:51 am
So, the facilities we have in Springfield are barreling toward having their utilities (power) cut off for non-payment. First instinct, let’s buy a nicer building!
To quote the Governor, “how tone deaf can you be?”
Comment by illini97 Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:53 am
–Commentary like this is why nothing ever gets done in state government. The gov has made clear he plans to sell the JRTC and that means emptying it out. This move would save the state money. –
Wasn’t there the thorny issue of a current tenant in the JRTC having a long term lease and no knowledge of State plans to sell the building out from under them?
Comment by illini97 Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 9:55 am
I hear there’s an unused Wal-Mart in Alexander county that with a little fix up would make a dandy office for the Gov and his staff. Think of the savings!
Comment by Skeptic Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:02 am
“Commentary like this is why nothing ever gets done in state government. The gov has made clear he plans to sell the JRTC and that means emptying it out. This move would save the state money.”
My eyes can’t roll back into my head any further.
Comment by Politix Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:13 am
If he’s ready and confident that JTC building is going to move, to look at alternative office sites makes sense. Why not have his staff do something like this while he and others are out of town?
Much bigger fish to fight about.
Comment by walker Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:19 am
==I never see security vehicles(SUV’s and sedans) at the locations on the east side of LaSalle.==
Black SUV’s doesn’t always equal the Governor. There are other offices in that building, including police.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:52 am
Since Rauner likes to drive around the state, he should ditch all buildings and have an RV office on wheels.
Comment by Mama Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 10:55 am
Schock is available for decorating ideas
Comment by Langhorne Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 11:01 am
“Since Rauner likes to drive around the state, he should ditch all buildings and have an RV office on wheels”
Doesn’t he still have that rickety van?
Comment by There is power in a union... Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 11:06 am
If the Thompson building is being sold, then logic demands that those agencies in that building must start planning from now to move elsewhere and somehow keep their doors open to the public while doing their actual move. That would include the Governor. The Governor moving his offices from one state building to another makes sense.
“Scurrying” or good governance? You would never tell from Sneed’s little blurb.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 11:10 am
Oh the Thompson Center is frightful
But in Bilandic it’s delightful –
And since we’ve got no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it.
Comment by olddog Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 11:15 am
… snow.
Comment by olddog Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 11:17 am
yawn…
Comment by Anon Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 11:19 am
==If the Thompson building is being sold, then logic demands that those agencies in that building must start planning from now to move elsewhere and somehow keep their doors open to the public while doing their actual move. That would include the Governor. The Governor moving his offices from one state building to another makes sense.==
But, he has 9 homes, or something.
Going full Oswego today.
Comment by Shoe Searer Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 12:12 pm
==Show your work.==
In order to believe this would be a money loser, you have to think that the present value of (1) sale of JRTC (?) + (2) avoidance of JRTC deferred maintenance ($100M+ per admin) + (3) current opex of JRTC (?) is less than (4) cost to move (?) + (5) ongoing cost of newly acquired space (could probably hash this out — 2,200 employees x market rent x sqft per person.
You can guess at the ? marks as well as I can. If you assume new space cost is the same as it costs to run JRTC now (bordering on absurd given the horrific JRTC layout and space utilization), then you essentially have to believe that the sale price of JRTC + avoidance of deferred maintenance is less than cost to move employees.
OK.
Comment by Shoe Searer Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 12:47 pm
gg, I certainly see his staff at JRTC
Comment by steve schnorf Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 1:00 pm
So - Shoe Searer -,
You don’t know.
You know the formula, but you don’t know.
And unless its $7-9 billion for today, if it’s a net zero, with the asset sold, I guess that’s just what a bust-out does in the public sector(?)
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 1:07 pm
“You aren’t able to predict the sale price of an entire city block, so let’s just go ahead and agree to my estimate of net zero.”
Comment by Shoe Searer Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 1:31 pm
Rauner is obviously not going down with the Thompson ship. As governor, he ought to be the LAST guy out of a bad building - not the first.
LAME
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 1:57 pm
In factoring all the figures you can’t forget the long term tenant expense. There will either be a lawsuit and inevitable settlement or an expensive buy out.
Comment by burbanite Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 2:28 pm
==Rauner is obviously not going down with the Thompson ship. As governor, he ought to be the LAST guy out of a bad building - not the first.==
Titanic metaphors are usually helpful as a guide in how to run state government.
Comment by Shoe Searer Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 2:33 pm
Visits to Southern Illinois flood regions: 1
Trips to Chicago to tour potential office space: 2
I don’t get it. Didn’t the governor move to Springfield? Why does he care so much what his office space in Chicago looks like?
Comment by Juvenal Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 3:02 pm