Former Wheaton perks might soon be memory

The ghost of what some thought of as largess in the Wheaton Park District is still visible in three vacant homes formerly used as taxpayer-funded housing for senior district employees.

That ghost may soon be exorcised.

Wheaton park commissioners voted to demolish three of the homes 19 months ago. However, they all still stand today. Money to actually level the homes was not budgeted at the time.

The park district, at one time, owned six homes. The homes targeted for demolition are three properties at Seven Gables Park. Two are located at the western end of the park. The other house is the most visible and is located near the barn adjacent to Naperville Road. The barn is not slated to be torn down.

Back in 2006, park staff estimated it would cost about $45,000 to raze the three houses. The park district will open bids for the demolitions this Friday and see how much that cost has increased.

It's unclear what the park district would use the added space for. In the past, park commissioners dreamed of adding a new ball field with the open space created.

That would not seem to be possible if the ancillary structures associated with the homes, the barn and garages, were left standing.

Wheaton Park District Executive Director Mike Benard was not yet on staff at the time of the 2006 vote.

Benard said Wednesday that the immediate plan would be to plant grass on the lots once the homes are torn down.

The homes have been vacant since the majority of senior staff using them retired two years ago. With the exception of the home used by Benard at Arrowhead Golf Course and the Cosley Zoo caretaker home, none of the houses are part of the compensation for senior staff any more.

Benard said he believes it's time for the houses to be torn down.

"The houses are of no value," Benard said. "They're dilapidated and they should be decommissioned."

Park commissioners are set to approve funding for the demolitions at their next meeting.