Dilapidated Des Plaines building to be demolished

Years after first being proposed, a dilapidated commercial building on Des Plaines’ northeast side will finally be demolished at the city’s expense.

The city council on Tuesday agreed to hire KLF Enterprises, a Markham company, to knock down the vacant structure at 281-301 S. Des Plaines River Road. KLF will be paid $89,000 for the job.

Demolition is expected to occur later this year.

City officials in 2022 announced plans to buy the building and one to the north, knock them down and turn the lots into green space. The properties are on the east side of the road and north of Rand Road, in the 1st Ward.

The other building, at 269 S. Des Plaines River Road, once was home to Waldo's Auto Repair. The city bought it for $225,000 in 2023 and demolished it later that year.

The building at 281-301 S. Des Plaines River Road has taken longer to deal with.

City officials tried to negotiate a purchase with the owner in 2024 but eventually resorted to condemnation, spokesperson Brad Goodman said.

A judge granted the city’s forced acquisition of the property for $280,000 this spring, he said.

First Ward Alderman Margaret Chlebek said she’s pleased the city finally is moving forward with demolition.

“This has been a long time coming,” Chlebek said in an email. “These properties have been an eyesore in our community for far too long, and I am glad we are finally taking the necessary steps to address them.”

Chlebek called the demolition “an important step toward eliminating longstanding blight and improving the overall appearance of the Rand and River roads intersection.”

The city council approved the KLF Enterprises contract without any public discussion. It was part of the consent agenda, which is reserved for items considered routine.

Of three demolition companies approached by city officials, KLF provided the least expensive price estimate for the job, documents indicate.

rlissau@dailyherald.com