Day care set for old school building

After years of sitting dormant, the old Marklund Day School in Roselle will come to life again.

Trinity Lutheran Church plans to buy the building and convert it into a community center.

Roselle village officials issued three permits Monday that will allow the church to operate a recreational community center in addition to a day-care center for both children and adults.

"It's an expansion of the ministry," said Lee Hanson, the church's finance director. "We'll be able to more than double the programs we already have."

The Roselle church has been operating a care center for children and adults for the past 15 years at the old fire station building on Rush and Walnut streets. Its day-care programs generally have served roughly 60 children and about 20 adults.

But it is planning to sell the building to acquire funds to buy the Marklund property on Maple Avenue and Howard Street. Hanson said the church will be closing on the school property today.

"I think the village is happy," Village Administrator Jeff O'Dell said. "It's a good use."

After the sale, the church plans to start remodeling and upgrading the building. It plans to spend roughly $400,000 on improvements, including asbestos remediation.

If plans proceed without problem, the new child and adult day-care center could be open by Thanksgiving, Hanson said.

The old school recently has been sought-after by the Roselle Park District. It wanted to buy and demolish the school, relocate its playground and install a soccer field among other things. But voters rejected the park district's request for a tax increase in April, and these plans were scrapped.