Fox River Grove to have old garage boarded up

The village of Fox River Grove is about to take action on an abandoned garage police say has become a public nuisance as a “party house.”

Within the next two weeks, the real estate company that's selling the garage will board it up to reduce the threat of vandalism, authorities said.

Moreover, the company is doing the work at the village's behest, said John Spurgeon, the village's building and zoning consultant.

The garage is behind the former site of the Five O'Clock Steakhouse on Northwest Highway that burned to the ground last year in a suspicious fire.

Police have said the dilapidated garage attracted people who used it as a “party house” that included alcohol.

As for the garage's warped siding, the village has yet to reach the owner on that issue and are trying to go through the real estate company, Spurgeon said.

In August and September, officials sent a certified letter to owner Demitrios Giannakouras, asking him to board up or demolish the garage.

As it is, the garage faces property maintenance violations that go back to September and cost $50 a day.

But the village has not yet received the most recent letter's receipt.

Spurgeon will now contact the post office to determine when the village was supposed to get it.

“We're trying to figure out the easiest way to get a hold of the owner to get compliance,” Spurgeon said. “It's a little difficult right now.”