Forest preserve building to cost millions extra

The construction of a new public safety and maintenance center will cost the Lake County Forest Preserve District millions more than initially expected, officials said.

First estimated to be a $10 million to $12 million job, district leaders this week said the effort will cost nearly $23 million.

The new figure was unveiled Thursday at a special committee-of-the-whole discussion of the forest board. The panel took no action on the matter and will discuss the plan again in October.

Despite the projected increase, officials are moving ahead with the plan, which would put the complex in the Fourth Lake Forest Preserve near Lindenhurst.

"If I have to set priorities, the priority for the forest preserve district is an efficiently running public safety building," forest district Director Tom Hahn said.

Because of the cost increase, a plan to build a new district headquarters likely will be delayed or put off indefinitely, Hahn said.

Officials want to build the public safety and maintenance building in the northern portion of the Fourth Lake preserve, a 510-acre site that's west of Route 45 and divided by Grand Avenue.

The 107,000-square-foot center will house the offices for the forest district rangers and the maintenance staff, who are now based in buildings at the Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda.

Forest district staffers came up with the initial estimates for the project, basing their quotes on construction costs of similar buildings in the area, Hahn said.

After their own review, the architect and construction manager working on the project agreed the effort will cost about $22.9 million, Hahn said.

The new figure includes contractor fees, furniture and all other possible expenses related to the center, Hahn said.

"Buildings and costs have escalated quite a lot," he said.

The board will discuss funding options for the project at the October committee-of-the-whole meeting.