Glen Ellyn wins rights to land for new history park

It's finally official.

Glen Ellyn leaders have acquired a 9,000-square-foot lot and a two-story brick building to make way for a history park near Stacy's Tavern.

Although the settlement was reached about ten days ago, information about the deal became available Wednesday.

For a decade, Glen Ellyn and the village's historical society have been trying to acquire the property at 820 N. Main St.

The former owners of the property, Kenneth and Terra Rezmer, have never been against selling the land but wanted a fair selling price.

Because the Rezmers once said they wanted more than $700,000 for the property and the village offered to pay much less, village officials initiated eminent domain proceedings to acquire the land in July 2006. Once the court ruled in favor of the village, another hearing determine a selling price should be $460,000.

A state grant of $100,000 was used to pay for part of the purchase. However, legal fees, taken on by the historical society, also amounted to about $100,000.

Transforming the entire area into a park has been part of the village's comprehensive plan since early 2000.

"This is a very important step for the historical society and the Glen Ellyn History Park because it will be the first highly visible step toward building the history park," said Dan Anderson, chairman of the historical society's capital campaign.

The Rezmers' attorney was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

The village bought the property, but the historical society will slowly repay the full purchase price. A similar arrangement was worked out in 2002 when the village spent $1 million to buy a 8,400-square-foot building at Elm and Main streets.

The historical society has given Five Corners Florist 120 days to vacate the building on the land. In the meantime, the society is looking for the best way to handle the demolition of the building, which is scheduled for early summer.

Early plans for the demolished area include open space with a history park sign.

The park is envisioned as a collection of historic buildings and gardens, replicas of defunct town features, displays of artifacts from local history and plazas for presentations and events that will also serve as a northern gateway into downtown.

The historical society's capital campaign so far has raised about $3 million. Officials won't know exactly how much money they'll need until a draft plan is completed in about six months.