DuPage forest Dist. 5 candidates disagree on whether progress is being made on barn
The fate of a historic barn near Naperville once again looms large in the Republican primary for the District 5 seat on the DuPage County Forest Preserve Commission.
Former forest preserve commissioner Carl Schultz of Aurora led an effort to stabilize the Greene Farm barn before losing reelection in 2012. The Naperville resident who beat Schultz - Mary Lou Wehrli - has since pushed to have the district rehabilitate the barn and an adjacent farmhouse.
But Schultz says no further improvements have been made to the 14,000-square-foot structure, which has stood unused for decades at the intersection of Greene and Hobson roads.
"Phase two is not in the district's master plan, which means it is not on the table for the next five years," Schultz said. "We can and should do better than that."
Schultz says he would work to get the project moving if he's able to win back his old seat representing District 5, which includes all or parts of Naperville, Lisle, Warrenville and Aurora.
However, Schultz first would need to defeat Wehrli during the Republican primary on March 17. In addition to unseating him in 2012, Wehrli defeated Schultz again during the GOP primary in 2016.
During a recent endorsement session with the Daily Herald, Wehrli says she's committed to seeing the Greene Farm barn transformed into an educational facility.
The farmhouse - known as Oak Cottage - and the barn were acquired by the forest preserve district in 1971. But to date, the Greene Farm has only been an aesthetic feature for people using the trail at Greene Valley Forest Preserve.
Still, Wehrli says progress has been made since the district spent roughly $1.2 million to stabilize the barn in 2012.
In 2018, Wehrli held a series of meetings with residents to gather ideas on possible public uses for the barn. By January 2019, forest preserve commissioners created an ad hoc committee that explored ways the barn could find new life.
Wehrli says many residents want the barn to be improved and made accessible to the public. An event last summer at the property drew more than 200 people and raised more than $3,400 for the barn, she said.
"We want a place where people can come and spend time together and be adjacent to the beauty of nature," she said.
But it would cost millions to renovate the farmhouse and barn for use by the public. Schultz said 5Ks and other events won't be enough to raise those dollars.
"You have to find ways to bring in armfuls of money," he said.
He said he would pursue state grants and large contributions from individuals, private foundations and other groups. He also would work to convince other commissioners that the Greene barn is a project worth pursuing.
"I'm all in favor of encouraging the public to help out with these sorts of things," Schultz said. "But if we want to accomplish this, you should be talking with the other commissioners."
Wehrli stressed the Greene Farm barn project is far from dead.
"I see the potential," she said, adding that public interest in the barn will continue. "It's going to continue to be valuable in the context of the East Branch DuPage River Trail."
The winner of the GOP primary will advance to the November general election to face Democrat Barbara O'Meara of Naperville, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.