Carol Stream parks building repairs could cost $10 million

Fixing the Carol Stream Park District's aging community center in Armstrong Park could cost as much as $10 million, parks officials said Monday.

The project, coupled with another $10 million in capital improvement projects on the district's long-range plan, means the agency would ultimately need to seek voter approval to borrow money.

The park district's board of trustees again deliberated whether to pursue plans to renovate the roughly 40-year-old Aldrin Community Center. The agency brought back representatives from Carol Stream-based Williams architects to sort through some of the issues in pursuing the work.

Among the questions park commissioners left unresolved is whether to renovate or demolish and rebuild the building, and whether Aldrin should even be rebuilt in Armstrong Park, a flood-prone piece of land in the oldest part of the village.

"I still don't know whether this is even the right site for such a facility," parks Commissioner Brian Sokolowski said.

Parks officials haven't set a date for pursuing a ballot measure. Park district President Dan Bird said the park board isn't likely to seek the request during the November general election.

The community center is mainly occupied by the district's administrative offices. There also is space for various community and park district meetings.

Few parks programs have been scheduled for the site since the park district shuttered Collins pool in 2006 after leaks were discovered on pool's deck.

Much of the building sits on flood-prone property, which officials said limits their ability to expand on the site. Still, the park district's architects suggested the building could be renovated into a two-story structure with options such as a gymnasium, indoor track, fitness rooms and office space.

The park board may ask voters through a referendum to borrow money by extending the life of some of the district's bonds to pay for any upgrades.

Refinancing existing debt could keep the park district's property tax rate from increasing. But parks officials haven't finalized any details of the proposed ballot measure.