After a bumpy process, the Crete Township is close to opening a community center following years of trying to purchase a building to house programs.
The township expects to close on the purchase of the building and property at 25930 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Sept. 30, with plans for classes to be held there shortly thereafter, according to township Supervisor Michael Liccar.
With work to do in the back of the building for sports, recreation and entertainment, Liccar anticipates a formal grand opening next spring.
“There are still a lot of logistics with it,” he said. “There are a number of things that have to be accomplished.”
But things are running so smoothly now that, even before the township officially owns the property, there will be a senior picnic there on Aug. 1, hosted by the township.
Liccar said he can’t wait for the opening after all of the obstacles along the way.
After receiving approval from electors in 2021 by a 44-9 count to purchase land and a building for a community center at 722 Exchange St., there were plenty of hiccups including property rights disputes.
Crete Township Supervisor Michael Liccar presents a plan June 29, 2021, to buy property near the intersection of Exchange and Sangamon streets for a community center. (Bill Jones/for the Daily Southtown)
In June 2023, the township held another special meeting for the electors to decide on taking out a loan to purchase the New Star/Sertoma building and property and to sell the Town Hall property at 1367 Wood St., in Crete.
Two resolutions on that topic were shot down 133-61 and 116-78 by the electors.
In the meantime, the township was given an American Rescue Plan Act grant of more than $800,000 from Will County to help defray the $1.3 million purchase price and allow the township to keep its Town Hall property and buy the New Star/Sertoma property.
The original asking price was $1.4 million but the owners reduced it, Liccar said.
After a third special meeting for the electors to May 14, they overwhelmingly voted 109-49 in favor of it.
“We have a board that is very frugal, including myself. I hate spending money,” Liccar said. “So, the ARPA grant made a world of difference and, in the last go-around, the township would have had to borrow money.
“This go-around made a lot more sense.”
Liccar said the township’s capital improvement fund is in good shape at $976,000, which will help with the purchase of the property and improvements to be in line with the community center’s needs.
When all is said and done, it appears hat this purchase could be a bargain, the supervisor said.
“You are getting a 15-year-old improved property, 32,000-square-foot building and 15 acres plus parking lot lighting,” Liccar said. “With today’s cost, if you were going to build something like that, it would be around $11 million.”
Crete Township serves more than 23,000 people in Crete and portions of Park Forest, Sauk Village, Steger and University Park.
Liccar said there are multiple offices and meeting rooms, a large area with storage space and a loading dock and the location is in the geographical center of Crete Township.
He said that the economic benefit per household will be $86.12.
The plan is for the center to be used by all ages, with plenty of activities for senior citizens. It will be a meeting place for social and civic clubs, games, bingo, group activities, a fitness center and movies.
For the youth, there will be sports and games, music instruction and concerts, drama instruction and plays, art instruction and galleries, plus education and mentoring programs.
For families, there will be pickleball, volleyball and basketball offered as well as community theater, art, music, concerts, plays, social and civic clubs and game competitions.
Future projects outdoors could include walking trails outdoor sports, community gardens, a fishing pond, outdoor concerts and splash pads.
Township Trustee Laura Hawkins is overseeing the Aug. 1 senior picnic, which she said will take place indoors. The event was previously held at Crete Park.
“I’m thankful that they are going to let us do the picnic there,” she said. “We usually have 125 people attend the picnic but I’m hoping to expand that a bit.”
Hawkins is also glad to see that the center is very close to a reality.
“It will be a great opportunity for the community to learn and grow and expand,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing people in the community start up a community garden and give free food away.
“The whole goal is to get the community involved and to do things for the community.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
