Des Plaines reconsiders buying Sim's Bowl

The cost to renovate the vacant Sim's Bowl and Lounge in downtown Des Plaines to bring the building up to city code may be a lot higher than initial estimates, city officials said Monday.

City leaders are conflicted about whether or not to buy the property for $862,500, despite the city council's earlier approval to purchase the bowling alley at 1555 Ellinwood St. - as well as the adjacent Depot Pizza and a 100-year-old building next door - from Midwest Bank in order to spur redevelopment.

Last week, the council opted not to borrow $895,000 to buy Sim's. Several city aldermen and fire and building code inspectors walked through the building late last week to see its condition for themselves.

The Des Plaines' Community Development Committee Monday night received revised cost estimates for refurbishing the building once it is purchased. The original renovation estimate was $600,000; officials now believe it could cost more than $860,000 to make necessary interior renovations to the 13,000-square-foot bowling alley just to bring it up to city code. That includes upgrades such as making bathrooms handicap accessible, repairing the roof, installing a new fire alarm and sprinkler systems and restoring kitchen equipment.

There also is the potential for yet-unknown costs, such as removal of lead paint and asbestos, since such materials were prevalent when Sim's was built in 1955, and for upgrading water service and the building facade.

"If the city or anybody else is planning to use it, there are some significant issues that have to be addressed," said Mike Conlan, city director of community and economic development. "Regardless of the use of that building, it would have to be brought up to code."

Conlan said city officials also are trying to get an updated appraisal for the roughly 27,000-square-foot Sim's property - valued at $1.3 million in 2007 - as property values have changed dramatically since Sim's succumbed to foreclosure last June. A new appraisal should be available within the next few days, he added.

"We may be looking at (the bank's attorneys) for an adjustment," Conlan said. "The building has deteriorated since the bank acquired it last June."

A few aldermen tossed around the idea of possibly using the building as storage space, and questioned whether it would cost any less to renovate.

"Any time you are changing the use of the building, you would have to bring it to full compliance of code," said Mike Spiel, city director of building and code enforcement.

It could cost the city more than $200,000 to raze the building because of the potential for asbestos and lead abatement, Spiel said.

The committee directed city staff to find more definitive answers about the actual cost before the council reviews whether to purchase it.