WILLOW SPRINGS CHOOSES REHABILITATION OVER
NEW; THEREBY ENHANCING GATEWAY TO VILLAGE
By EDWARD L. FORMENTO, President, Village of Willow Springs
For years it had become clear that the Village of
Willow Springs needed a new home for its Administration and Police Department. The existing combined
Village Hall/Police building was over 60 years old,
severely undersized and beyond repair. Rather than
construct a new building, with estimated costs approaching $100.00 per square foot, the President and
Board of Trustees found a suitable vacant building in
the Village to acquire and rehabilitate. The building
was the former United Auto Worker's Meeting Hall,
which had been vacant for over 3 years. The UAW
building had plenty of room for both the Village's administrative offices and its Police Department, including all required jail cells and holding areas, as well as a
generous site for the Village's parking needs.
Although the building needed substantial rehabilitation,
and despite the unknown, but always expected
"hidden problems" associated with the rehabilitation of
an existing older building, the vacant building was
transformed into a modern municipal/police facility at
a cost of less than $60.00 per square foot. Besides the
cost savings, the choice to rehab the UAW Hall also
presented an opportunity for the Village to improve its
image especially since the property is located along a
major traffic artery. We are hopeful that our decision
and action will spur additional rehab work not only in
the adjacent areas, but also in our business areas.
The Village was assisted in this project by Architect,
Ray Chocholek, A.I.A., Principal of Interplan Practice,
Ltd.; the General Contractor, Talsma Builders, Inc.;
and Village Attorney, Richard J. Skrodzki, allot whom
provided capable guidance through the often difficult
problems associated in this project. And, special thanks
must be given to Trustee June Phillips who donated her
professional interior design services gratis to the Village
to decorate and furnish our new home.
The new Village Hall/Police Facility opened in July
of 1993 and has proved to be both a functional space
and a needed resource for our community, while providing an improved appearance for our Village.
February 1994 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 9
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