Glen Ellyn board pulls contract with demolition firm
A contractor hired to demolish a century-old building near a strategic intersection in Glen Ellyn hasn’t done the requested work, village officials said.
So the village board on Monday voted to rescind its $22,300 contract with the firm, Plainfield-based Midwest Site Services.
The contractor was hired in August to demolish the rear residential building at 810 N. Main St., located near what is known as Stacy’s Corners — the intersection of Main and St. Charles and Geneva roads. But an application for demolition permit was never filed, and village officials say no one from Midwest has returned their phone calls in six weeks.
On Nov. 10, Village Manager Mark Franz sent the firm a letter indicating that the contract would be rescinded for nonperformance if a response wasn’t received by Nov. 23.
Brian Westwood, the firm’s president, had no comment when reached by phone Monday.
Despite concerns from preservationists, village trustees approved the building’s demolition in July. A task force appointed to evaluate the building’s potential recommended it come down, and a preservation architect found that it could cost up to $392,000 to renovate the interior to make it “a viable commercial property.”
As part of the contract, Midwest agreed to perform testing for asbestos, and it did find presence of the substance in the building, according to the village.
An attached commercial storefront will be kept. It currently houses a nail salon, which will be moving out in January, said Kristen Schrader, assistant to the village manager.
The Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce has expressed interest in relocating its offices there.
The village took over full ownership and usage rights of the 810 N. Main property from the Glen Ellyn Historical Society last year in exchange for relieving some of the group’s debt. The society had planned to use the building as part of its history park at Stacy’s Corners.
Village President Mark Pfefferman has previously said that the society’s needs and interest in the house have changed, and group officials would prefer open space there in the short term.
Only one other contractor, Chicago Interior Wrecking, had responded to the village’s original request for quotes for the building demolition. Village staff will work with the firm to update the quote, and anticipate the new price would be less than $20,000, officials said.