Allendale unveils 'green' cafeteria for residents

Eighteen-year-old Troy Clark couldn't hold back a smile when asked about what will surely become many children's favorite part of Allendale Association's new cafeteria: the ice cream machine.

The Lake-Villa based educational, treatment and advocacy center for troubled children held the grand opening of its $3.1 million "green" cafeteria Thursday, the first step of a $12 million improvement project.

The original cafeteria was built in 1911 to hold 50 children, and with about 200 children eating every day in 2010, this was the most needed improvement, said Allendale President Mary Shahbazian.

"We were having five lunch shifts a day to get everyone into the old building," Shahbazian said, mentioning that some children had to start eating lunch as early as 10:30 a.m.

About $2 million for the project was raised by the Shelter Club, a group of 75 North Shore mothers that has been supporting Allendale for 103 years.

"Shelter Club is about nurturing," said Kiki Smith, former club president. "Kids can now sit at the same time around a table and talk, like what happens around a kitchen table."

The architects of the new cafeteria, named the Shelter Club Commons, expect the building to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Certification Institute with a silver rating. Some environmentally friendly design features in the construction include water saving fixtures, a tighter building seal to prevent air leakage, use of recycled building materials as well as only using materials manufactured within a 500-mile range.

"It's smart because in the long haul, the payback will be dividends," said Ken Behles, architect for the project. "The tighter the building, the more money saved.

Allendale's next step is raising the necessary funds to build a new operations center and gymnasium. The association is waiting on a $4 million grant from the state, Shahbazian said.

"Close to 30 senators have signed on," she said, noting the association has never asked for state money before. "We heard that we are prioritized for possible early funding."

The association is currently working with former Chicago Bull Bill Cartwright to raise funds for the gymnasium in a drive called "Athletes for Allendale." Shahbazian said Cartwright has been working with the Chicago Bears, Blackhawks and Bulls in the effort.

"It's kind of a tradition that so many people believe in," said Lorrie Damrow, Shelter Club president. "What's going on here is wonderful."