September 16, 2024
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News - McHenry County

ComEd: Motorola campus owners owe $545K in electric bills at Harvard building

By JOSEPH BUSTOS
The vacant Motorola campus, now owned by Optima International, appears to have reduced maintenance on the grounds. The power has been shut off, and the property taxes, more than $329,000 for this year, have not been paid.

The vacant Motorola campus, now owned by Optima International, appears to have reduced maintenance on the grounds. The power has been shut off, and the property taxes, more than $329,000 for this year, have not been paid. (Kyle Grillot)

HARVARD – The owners of the vacant Motorola corporate campus owe more than $545,000 in electricity bills, according to a lawsuit filed by ComEd.

The lawsuit, which was filed in May, alleges Miami-based Optima Ventures, owners of the former Motorola facility, have accumulated $545,816 in unpaid electric bills as of April. According to an account activity statement filed by ComEd, Optima did not pay the electricity bills for February, March and April. Since April 2012, the company also has been charged for late payments more than 25 times, according to account activity statements.

Electricity has been turned off at the 1.5-million-square-foot building since the spring. Not having electricity has forced people showing the building to prospective tenants to use flashlights during tours.

Running the electricity is expensive on the campus.

From April 2012 through March 2013, Optima was charged almost $675,000 in electric bills for the vacant building. Optima International bought the building in 2008 for $16.75 million.

The Midwest Corporate Campus has 1.5 million square feet through four connected buildings.

Amenities include a fitness center with a dance room, two child care centers, nine elevators, a keyless security system, a 500-seat auditorium, a 1,100-person capacity cafeteria, miles of biking and running trails and two heliports (one rooftop, one ground level).

The campus has 6,000 parking spaces and 28 underground executive parking spaces. It has been vacant since 2003.

The next status hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for Thursday.

HarvardMcHenry County