Volunteers ask Libertyville for help on Brainerd project

A volunteer group that has been trying for years to raise money and interest for the conversion of the former Libertyville High School and gym to a top-notch community center has hit a wall and will ask the village for help.

At 1 p.m. Saturday, the Brainerd Community Center Inc., will unveil a plaque designating the buildings at Route 176 and Brainerd Avenue, as being on the National Register of Historic Places, an award bestowed last summer. A public open house to coincide with the popular Libertyville Days festival will follow.

While the local landmarks are well known to generations of graduates, the task of raising millions of dollars to resurrect the buildings has proved to be beyond the power of the group. A decision of whether to proceed at all could rest with the village board.

"The concept of handing off the project to a volunteer citizens group has been ineffective to date," said John Snow, president of Brainerd Community Center Inc. "We need to have the village government take another look and come up with a fresh approach."

On Tuesday, Snow said, he intends to address the village board, which was reconstituted in April with the election of a new mayor and three new trustees. He will ask the new village leaders if they agree with the concept, now five years old, of pursuing plans to convert the buildings. Estimates to renovate both the 1916 high school building and 1929 Jackson Gym have been as high as $15 million.

"I'm asking the current administration to revisit and study that (2004) report and make a decision if they want to support the project and accept the findings of the study committee," he said.

If so, Snow said, he will ask the village to become vocal supporters and make the project a priority. He said the village has more leverage than volunteers to ignite and harness local interest and expertise, particularly for grant writing. The village also could initiate a referendum to issue bonds for the project, according to Snow.

The future of the buildings for years had been a contentious issue between the village and Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128, which owns them. They were last used for academics in 1999 and closed in 2004 because of safety and accessibility concerns.

A compromise was reached in late 2006 in which the village agreed to lease the buildings for 50 years at a total rent of $1.25 million. Those payments don't kick in until late 2011, however, giving the village a chance to opt out if substantial progress hasn't been made. The community group was designated to oversee the effort.

"Up until now, it's like the village birthed the baby and left it on the hospital steps," Snow said. "If it's not going to go forward, it needs to be returned to the school district."

The National Register listing was granted, in part, because of the buildings' long-standing association with the community and is considered a plum to attract investments and grants.