Carol Stream planning village hall addition, renovations

Carol Stream trustees are expected to decide next month whether to ink an agreement with an architectural firm to design an addition and remodel of village hall that could cost between $13.1 million and $15.6 million.

The proposed project would demolish a portion of the existing building that houses both village operations and police at 500 N. Gary Ave. Crews would excavate the ground below and build a three-level addition containing a basement, main level and second floor. The rest of the nearly 40-year-old building also would be renovated.

The village board will consider hiring Williams Architects at its April 4 meeting. Trustees would have to authorize each step of the design process. But if they agree to break ground on the project, the Itasca firm would charge the village 7.9 percent of the total cost of construction, according to the draft agreement.

So if construction cost an estimated $10.6 million, the village would pay architects an $840,000 fee for several rounds of designs and seeking bids, among other services.

The firm would charge $10,000 a month for administering a second phase of construction expected to last five months. The village also could pay the firm roughly $158,000 to hire a landscape architect, engineers and other subcontractors.

Splitting the project in two phases could allow village employees to continue working in one part of the building, while other areas are being remodeled. Another possibility is temporarily renting off-site office space to some village businesses.

Mark Bushhouse, president of Williams Architects, strongly recommended Monday that the board also hire a construction manager that would give feedback on the layout of the addition, estimate costs and plan for construction logistics.

"In order for us to remain open, we're going to have to address temporary entrances, temporary exits, parking," Village Manager Joe Breinig told the board. "Because we're going to have construction parking here as well."

"Another good reason to get a quality construction manager on board early, so we could be wise, and I'll say realistic, about how this works," Bushhouse added.

With an addition, the footprint of the building would increase to roughly 60,000 square feet and accommodate future staffing needs, officials say. The current village hall was built in 1979 and covers 40,400 square feet.

The village board also hasn't settled on a funding plan for the project. The lion's share of the addition and remodel could feasibly be financed by millions in reserves built up by budget surpluses, financial planners told the board earlier this month.

The village could transfer roughly $10 million in cash toward the project, leaving reserves at just above the minimum threshold: 25 percent of village operating expenses, Finance Director Jon Batek has said.

Another possibility is borrowing money to pay for a portion of the project.

Construction could begin in spring 2017. The revamped village hall would open more than a year later in September 2018.