Alaska has its so-called "bridge to nowhere." Illinois has what could be called the "buildings for no one."

They are four group homes built at the former Lincoln Developmental Center which are sitting vacant because the governor isn't sure he was "in the right place" when he directed their construction.

The buildings have been finished, but the debate over their use goes on.

The "ka-ching" sound you hear is public money falling down a black hole - and no one knows where the bottom is.

Taxpayers didn't just spend $4.6 million for constructing these buildings for no one. They also will have to pay about $82,500 a month to keep the new buildings and other facilities at the old LDC site from deteriorating.

How long that will go on is not known. At this point there are no plans for the site.

State Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, is right.

"It just doesn't make sense," as the Springfield Republican said, to spend all that money, then let the buildings remain vacant.

There is plenty of blame to go around.

Former Gov. George Ryan closed LDC amid allegations that developmentally disabled residents were not getting proper care.

The decision was made with little planning or consultation with families whose relatives resided at LDC.

Rod Blagojevich, then a candidate for governor, promised to reopen LDC - with little planning or consultation with those who question whether large state-run facilities are the best place to provide for developmentally disabled people.

After Blagojevich's election, his administration came up with the alternative of four, 10-bedroom group homes, a far cry from the 400-resident institution that once existed in Lincoln, but also far from the community-based care that many insist is better.

It's not just a matter of what's better; it's a matter of law.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that institutionalizing a person who could and wants to live in a community with proper support services could be unconstitutional discrimination.

Therefore, the governor isn't necessarily wrong for back-pedaling from his promise to reopen LDC in some form.

The bigger issue is letting these buildings go to waste while the bill for taxpayers continues to grow.

We urge the governor and Legislature to find a useful purpose that will turn these facilities at the former LDC into buildings for someone.