County pitches in to fix meeting hall

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County pitches in to fix meeting hall

Razing was mulled for damaged building in Kane forest district

By Presecky

Tribune staff reporter Chicago Tribune

Published December 1, 2006

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/nearwest/chi-

0612010147dec01,1,726600.story?coll=chi-newslocalnearwest-

hed & ctrack=1 & cset=true

Although it's been a steady money-loser, the Kane County Forest

Preserve District's House in Geneva has been saved from the

wrecking ball and will get another chance to turn a profit.

Under terms of an intergovernmental agreement with the county

endorsed Thursday by the Forest Preserve District's Utilization

Committee, the two entities will share a $30,000 tab to remove mold

and repair the popular meeting venue that the district staff had

recommended for demolition.

A majority of the repair costs to the a Cultural and

Conference Center, more than $22,000, is earmarked for mold

remediation and other improvements to the building's basement to

make it usable again.

The district committee voted Thursday to recommended approval of a

$22,475 contract with Kinsale Contracting, of Westmont, to clean up

the mold.

The House had been targeted for demolition this fall under

a plan recommended in April by the Utilization Committee but never

approved.

The 1970s-vintage residence underwent extensive remodeling in 1990

to convert it to public use, has hosted numerous Fox Valley art

exhibits, wedding receptions and meetings over the years.

The building is north of Elfstrom Stadium and is part of the

district-owned Kane County Events Center on Kirk Road.

Rental fees derived from use of various parts of House on a

one-time or ongoing basis have been covering only about a third of

the $74,000 that the district has been paying out annually to

maintain and operate it, said Meyers, district executive

director, who had recommended demolition.

The district charges $75 to rent the facility for four hours.

Attempts in the last two years to operate the building on a break-

even basis have proved unsuccessful, she said.

Forest Preserve Commission President Hoscheit (R-St. ),

who said he negotiated the proposed repair and reuse deal with

County Board Chairman McConnaughay (R-St.), called the

pending intergovernmental arrangement an opportunity for the two

entities to acquire more meeting space.

Recurring problems with water leakage and a break in a water pipe

had rendered the building's basement not usable, said Meyers.

In addition to stabilizing the structure, more study will need to be

done to expand the building's use, Hoscheit said.

According to Annmarie Fauske, the district's director of community

affairs, a substantial investment in electrical and technological

improvements is needed to increase the house's marketability and

ability to command higher rental fees.

The decision in May to defer action on the recommendation to

demolish the building was pressed by members of the district's

Executive Committee on grounds that razing it was premature.

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