Downtown demolition may bring more green space

Two long-time blighted properties near downtown Elgin are scheduled for demolition by the end of August, signaling a ray of hope for nearby neighbors and businesses.

The boarded up buildings at 58 S. State and 50-52 S. State street are side by side and immediately south of the J.J. Pepper's strip mall at the corner of West Chicago and South State. After a fire broke out at 50-52 S. State in 2003, the apartment building has sat vacant and boarded up, and has been an eyesore for years, said RuthAnne Hall of the city manager's office of Elgin.

"The demolition of these buildings is a very positive thing, especially for the Near-West Neighborhood Association," said Hall.

Hall said the city purchased 58 S. State this past summer. Since the owner of 50-52 S. South St. could not bring the property up to code following the fire, the city has condemned the building and is proceeding with demolition. Although built as homes before the turn of the century in an area known as Millionaire's Row, the buildings are now in an arterial overlay zoning district. The zoning calls for any new construction to meet a certain standard with mostly brick exteriors and other amenities.

"The zoning made it too cost prohibitive for the owner to rehab the building," she said.

Chuck Keysor, president of the Near-West Neighborhood Association, said neighbors view the demolition as positive, although wish the properties would not have declined for so long.

"Ten percent of you that feels these used to be beautiful old buildings that could be saved but they are in a bad location," said Keysor. "Previous owners had taken the original siding off one of the buildings and most of the original features inside. They were beyond hope."

Plans call for the parcels to remain as green space as long as a redevelopment proposal isn't submitted. That is good news for representatives of the Near-West Neighborhood Association, which drew more than 30 people in a walking tour several months ago designed to showcase neighborhood challenges. Among the association's proposals to create more open space was including 58 and 50-52 S. State in a new, triangular-shaped neighborhood park.

Hall said the city is still weighing the pros and cons of that idea. Keysor said another way to create more park space may be to partner with St. Laurence Elementary School at 572 Standish St. The K-8 school has good access from Walnut and South Streets and its small campus between Jewett, Standish, Holly and Orchard could be expanded over time with property acquisitions.

"We desperately need more park space in this neighborhood," said Keysor. "We are willing to work with the city on what makes the best sense and realize it may take time to make any proposal viable."