No takers, so historic Mt. Prospect structures will be torn down

Two Mount Prospect buildings that the village was selling for a buck will be knocked down in less than a month, since there were no serious bidders.

The village had about nine people come forward expressing an interest in buying and moving the downtown buildings after the opportunity was publicized at the first of the year. Two people even took tours, but none of the inquiries turned into serious proposals, said Dave Stahl, assistant village manager.

The exact date of destruction for the buildings has not been determined but it will be in three to four weeks, he said. Barrington Hills-based Langos Corp. is preparing to demolish the property at 16 W. Northwest Hwy., formerly Meersman Law Offices, and 10 W. Busse Ave, formerly Josie's Barbershop, at a cost of no more than $13,000, according to its contract with the village.

The building at 16 W. Northwest Highway was built before 1900 and was the second home of John Meyn, Mount Prospect's first blacksmith.

The property at 30 W. Busse was home to Mount Prospect's first barbershop, Baldini's. It was built in the 1920s, said Gregory Peerbolte, the historical society's executive director.

Last May, the board approved a plan by Northbrook developer John D. Heimbaugh to built a $40 million town center project on a site that includes the two buildings. It would consist of two seven-story buildings on one five-story building on a 2-acre site downtown. The project would include more than 100 condominiums and between 30,000 and 40,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.

Last April, the village board agreed to purchase the properties from the Meersman family that will be part of the project for $1.275 million and drop eminent domain proceedings. The village also agreed to pay attorney fees and moving expenses for the business up to $175,000.

The village still is in the middle of condemnation proceedings against another property at 18 W. Busse Ave. which is owned by Tod Curtis, who runs Ye Olde Town Inn in that space. He and the village have been fighting for a couple of years over alternative visions of how the triangle should be developed.