The sealed bid for the property at 17701 Bretz Drive was opened in front of the board by Angela Mesaros, Homewood’s director of economic and community development, at the June 10 meeting. 

The village originally acquired the land on December 12, 2024, through the Cook County No Cash Bid program. The property consists of 5.91 acres of land, and is located in the M-1 Limited Manufacturing zoning district, Mesaros said. 

Since this property is not located within a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, state statute provides for two different methods by which the village can sell it. Option 1 is sale by ordinance, which requires 80% of appraised value and 2/3 voting approval. Option 2, which was used in this case, is a sale using a bid process. This requires 3 publications and 75% voting, she said. 

Following three publications in the Chicago Tribune in May 2025 by village staff, one bid was received by the village by noon on June 9. 

Mesaros revealed that the bid was submitted by Barefoot Land Company.

“They are proposing a modern one-story self-storage facility, and their offer price is $750,000,” Mesaros said. 

The offer will now be under review. 

The board also agreed to solicit alternate bids and proposals for the sale and development of the property at 18155 Dixie Highway, formerly Delanoe’s Pizza, on June 10. 

Mesaros says that the one-story commercial building that the village acquired in October 2024 is located in the B-2 Downtown Transition zoning district. Since it is also located outside of the TIF district, the village will again use the bid process for the sale. 

Following three publications that will be published this June, the bids will be due July 18. The sealed bid will then be opened in front of the board at the July 22 meeting, Mesaros said.