Dwight Losing Steam: Prison Closure Puts Village in Economic Slump
By: Kim Behrens
Updated: March 12, 2013
DWIGHT - Barbara Wilkinson is recently retired, and has lots of time to spend in her 4,000 square foot home.
"This house has a lot of nice architecture and nice features and our thought was we'll get this restored and it will be very marketable," said Wilkinson.
When the family bought it 15 years ago Dwight had a promising future.
No one ever knew its largest employer would eventually be shut down.
"Now with the prison closing housing prices are very depressed," Wilkinson explained. "If we were to put the house on the market, there wouldn't be any profit in it."
A sharp spike in homes for sale has hit the community.
A growing trend as the shut down nears for Dwight Correctional Center.
"I drive around town and I see for sale signs all over, for rent. So, it's really hurting. It's like a growing weed that's invested the village," said Mayor Bill Wilkey.
John Geschwind is a real estate broker.
He's having a hard time getting top dollar for his clients.
"People will have us come and tell them what we feel the market value of their house is, and it's less than what they owe on it," said Geschwind. "That's what's sad about it."
Even worse, buyers are few and far between.
"We don't have anything positive to really be optimistic about at this point," he added.
"People that have been trying to sell their houses can't sell their houses," echoed Bill Wilkey.
With a market in limbo as the prison shuts down and its employees leave the area, leaders say all they can do now is wait out the storm, in hopes one day the governor's decision will be reversed.
"Tighten up our belts and get through this because I'm sure in a year and a half he's not going to be around and they're going to need this facility," said Wilkey.
The mayor hopes the decision to close Dwight Correctional Center will be reversed after next year's gubernatorial election.
The prison shuts down March 31st.
"This house has a lot of nice architecture and nice features and our thought was we'll get this restored and it will be very marketable," said Wilkinson.
When the family bought it 15 years ago Dwight had a promising future.
No one ever knew its largest employer would eventually be shut down.
"Now with the prison closing housing prices are very depressed," Wilkinson explained. "If we were to put the house on the market, there wouldn't be any profit in it."
A sharp spike in homes for sale has hit the community.
A growing trend as the shut down nears for Dwight Correctional Center.
"I drive around town and I see for sale signs all over, for rent. So, it's really hurting. It's like a growing weed that's invested the village," said Mayor Bill Wilkey.
John Geschwind is a real estate broker.
He's having a hard time getting top dollar for his clients.
"People will have us come and tell them what we feel the market value of their house is, and it's less than what they owe on it," said Geschwind. "That's what's sad about it."
Even worse, buyers are few and far between.
"We don't have anything positive to really be optimistic about at this point," he added.
"People that have been trying to sell their houses can't sell their houses," echoed Bill Wilkey.
With a market in limbo as the prison shuts down and its employees leave the area, leaders say all they can do now is wait out the storm, in hopes one day the governor's decision will be reversed.
"Tighten up our belts and get through this because I'm sure in a year and a half he's not going to be around and they're going to need this facility," said Wilkey.
The mayor hopes the decision to close Dwight Correctional Center will be reversed after next year's gubernatorial election.
The prison shuts down March 31st.
