A realtor representing the former Wurlitzer Corp. property said that although his firm has received several offers for the land, NIU remains the preferred potential tenant.

Jonathon Miller, vice president of Equitable Real Estate Investment Management Inc., said, “It is fair to say there are other possibilities for sale of the property, but we would still like to see NIU make the transaction. We would like to give the university some time to work the deal out, if possible.”

He said that Equitable had not set a “firm deadline” as to when a decision regarding the property sale would be made.

Governor James Thompson vetoed a bill Aug. 1 which would have supported NIU in raising the $1.2 million necessary for acquisition and renovation of the Wurlitzer property. NIU administrators had planned to develop the NIU Engineering and Research Park at the site on Gurler Road.

Because of the veto, NIU administrators are looking into alternative funding sources for the project, such as more private sector donations to add to the $387,000 already privately raised. John Lewis, NIU director of corporate relations, said Monday that NIU has not yet made an “exact decision” about alternative funding.