Dist. 128 discusses backup plans for community center
Although they support a local group's plan to turn a former Libertyville High School campus into a community center, Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 officials are developing backup plans in case the proposal falls apart.
All of the plans reviewed at a committee meeting Monday would lead to the demolition of the Brainerd Building and its adjoining Jackson Gym and the construction of athletic fields or parking space on the land.
"We will go forward with contingency planning just in case - so we're not sitting on that building for two years, waiting to do something," Superintendent Prentiss Lea said.
The Brainerd Building is on Route 176 at Brainerd Avenue, just east of the current Libertyville High campus. The buildings closed to students several years ago because of health and safety concerns.
A community group and village leaders have floated a multimillion-dollar plan to turn the building, which was built early in the last century and has landmark status, into a community center. But they've been unable to raise the money needed to make the plan a reality.
District 128 still owns the building but gave the village five years to put together the financing for the project. If supporters can't come up with the cash by the deadline, which is in late 2011, control of the building will revert to the school district.
The District 128 property committee talked about the site's future Monday night. Members reviewed a Dec. 9 letter from Libertyville Mayor Terry Weppler, in which Weppler said the village is unable to financially support the creation of a community center and said the community foundation behind the proposal may need more time to raise the money.
"The economic conditions since the original lease was enacted have changed significantly," Weppler wrote.
Weppler asked to meet with District 128 officials about the future of the Brainerd campus. Lea said such a meeting likely will occur after the winter holidays.
"We are supportive of them being successful," Lea said.
Even so, the property committee went over three architectural plans that could help determine what District 128 officials will do with the site if it returns to their control. One called for the construction of a new football field; another put new tennis courts on the site; the third would create more parking spaces.
All three plans recommended demolition of the Brainerd Building, the gym or both structures.
Such demolition work could cost $350,000 according to a recent estimate, officials said.