Warrenville studies repair costs for building

The Warrenville City Council approved a plan Monday to go ahead with a study to determine how much it will cost to repair the roof and gym floor of a Depression-era community building.

Should the city council then approve the repairs, Warrenville Park District officials said they'd consider taking control of the 14,000-square-foot building at 3S240 Warren Ave.

"The building needs attention," City Administrator John Coakley said. "The question is what is it going to cost, and who will use the building long-term."

Warrenville city and park district officials have for some time debated the future of the facility, which is home to a variety of park district and other community programming.

City officials have considered renovation plans that could have cost from $4 million to $9.5 million, far more than the $2 million that had been earmarked in the budget.

Last year, officials entertained the idea of selling the building to a developer or tearing it down and replacing it with a larger structure.

Last month, the park district sent a letter to the city saying they'd be interested in taking control of the property if Warrenville made repairs to the roof and gym floor.

Coakley said cost estimates on the repair work should be available by the end of the month.