You Paid For It: State-owned restaurant is empty
Updated: October 4, 2012
PETERSBURG -- A restaurant the state built more than 20 years ago has
been sitting vacant for nearly a decade and the state doesn't have a
plan for its future.
In 1991, the state spent $1.5 million to build a new restaurant at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site near Petersburg. The state spent another $1 million building a road leading up to the restaurant from the highway and a parking lot. But after a handful of operators couldn't make the building work over the years, the last operator moved out in 2005 and the building has sat empty for the last seven years.
During that time, the building has deteriorated. WCIA-3 News cameras were not allowed inside, but outside the building were loose shingles, broken windows and an obvious bug problem.
The state sent out a request for proposals to clean the building up in 2010. Only one person responded but did not submit a proposal.
In 1991, the state spent $1.5 million to build a new restaurant at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site near Petersburg. The state spent another $1 million building a road leading up to the restaurant from the highway and a parking lot. But after a handful of operators couldn't make the building work over the years, the last operator moved out in 2005 and the building has sat empty for the last seven years.
During that time, the building has deteriorated. WCIA-3 News cameras were not allowed inside, but outside the building were loose shingles, broken windows and an obvious bug problem.
The state sent out a request for proposals to clean the building up in 2010. Only one person responded but did not submit a proposal.
