State: Case not made for razing historic Geneva school
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency has said Kane County's plan to tear down the former Sixth Street School is premature.
An April 15 letter to the county's architects states, "the proposal to demolish the school constitutes an adverse effect" on a property eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
The former school is eligible because of its long association with, and influence on, the Geneva community, and because "it is a good example of early 20th-century school design," wrote David Halpin, cultural resources manager.
Instead the county should analyze alternatives, such as mothballing the building, incorporating the building in to any proposed development, or selling the building to somebody else, Halpin wrote.
Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen said he was notified of the letter Monday afternoon.
"I don't think that (mothballing) is a practical consideration," he said.
Lauzen also said the county's goal was to "make things better and save money" by demolishing the building.
About half the building is used by the Kane County Regional Office of Education, which is moving out.
The Geneva Public Library is buying the site but does not want to use the building.
The school is in Geneva's historic district. The city council voted 8-1 to allow the building to be demolished, overruling the city's Historic Preservation Commission.
Geneva is a certified local historic preservation agency, which is why state review of the proposed demolition was required.
According to Chris Wills, spokesman for the state historic preservation agency, Kane County can appeal the decision by providing more documentation about why the state's suggestions won't work.
Lauzen said county officials will ask state legislators to help it persuade the state to let it take the building down. He would not name which ones.
65th District Rep. Steven Andersson of Geneva is married to Nanette Andersson, an architect who sits on the city's Historic Preservation Commission. Rep. Mike Fortner of the 49th District also represents the city.