"We are offering them real estate brokerage services for theirproperties and retail spaces available," Karen Runge, managingbroker with Inland, tells GlobeSt.com. "This includes doingsearches for qualified developers and compatible retailers on sitesthey have identified for us to focus on. We want to get the wordout about the benefits of doing business in Crystal Lake, and thecity would like to find out what opportunities exist and whichretailers would be a good fit."

The city has identified 19 properties, either with open land ithopes to develop or buildings it hopes to occupy. The propertiesrange in size from less than an acre to more than 23 acres.Buildings on the properties range in size from 6,600 square feet to192,000 square feet, and include former restaurants and a vacantPier 1 Imports location.

"They're trying to expand or enhance what they have there andredevelopment efforts, and we're going to work to make retailersand developers aware of them," Runge says. "They feel McHenryCounty has a strong workforce, and that they are a great communityand place to do business. The city wants to increase theirentertainment and dining selection, and the amount ofrecreation-based businesses, and also welcomes office, industrialand medical uses." Runge tells GlobeSt.com that the city has notput together specific thoughts on what type or size of developmentit would like on the parcels.