Elgin agonizes over rebuilding or replacing Hemmens

To renovate or rebuild?

That's the question facing the Elgin City Council as it decides the fate of the city's nearly 40-year-old Hemmens Cultural Center.

The city council Wednesday night asked its staff to come back with a comparison of the costs of renovation and construction of a new performing arts center.

But already, it's pretty clear that renovating the existing building won't be cost-effective, city officials said.

"It was not meant to be a multi-generational building," Assistant City Manager Sean Stegall said.

Renovations would have to include adding public restrooms on the ground floor, replacing the heating and air conditioning system, and adding as many as 500 new seats -- which would require raising the roof.

A study by city consultants Economics Research Associates and Fisher Dachs, however, said renovation could total 75 percent of the costs of a new center -- or upward of $30 million, Stegall said.

But that number could change.

"It's hard to know," Stegall said. "We just don't have enough data."

Still, city council members say they want to review all their options.

"This is a pretty heavy decision for us," council member Robert Gilliam said.

Especially considering the cost of a new facility.

Last year, the city's economic feasibility study suggested a new center would cost $125 million.

Mayor Ed Schock says that's not possible.

"I think anything $100 million and above is unrealistic," Schock said. "What were going to have to do is … determine a budget and determine what a facility of 1,800 to 2,000 seats would cost, and whether it can be done in something in the $60 (million) to $80 million range."

No matter what they find out, council members said, they don't want to fund the project by raising taxes.

"I don't think we should do anything with our property taxes to fund a new facility," Gilliam said.

Schock agreed.

"If we have to do this by raising property taxes and so on, it's kind of a non-starter," Schock said. "We need to consider, are there other stores of revenue that could be used to help pay for the facility?"

Schock said the city has a lot of options.

For instance, officials could issue bonds to be paid back, at least in part, with riverboat money. They could also hold fundraisers with the groups that would use the new center.

"That's a formula that's been used in a lot of communities," Schock said.

Another option?

"Maybe we could get some money from the state," Schock said. "They've spent money on less worthy projects, that's for sure.

"My guess is it's going to be some combination of sources," he said.