New Chicago and Hobart Township officials will open bids for the demolition of the century-old New Chicago Town Hall on April 4 at the Hobart Township Trustee’s office, 1421 W. 37th Ave. in Hobart.
The demolition, expected to begin in late spring, is another step toward construction of a new town complex, which will be shared with the trustee and township assessor, at 122 Huber Blvd.
The bids will be opened in an 11 a.m. meeting with township trustee Fred Williams, town manager Sue Pelfrey, and a project architect.
Pelfrey said workers completed asbestos remediation work Jan. 17 at the town hall, which formerly was a school until it was donated to the town. The aging two-story building doesn’t have an elevator and has several roof leaks, and its masonry is crumbling.
Town water department clerks and other workers, along with the police department, relocated in November. River Forest school officials offered to let the town use its vacant nearby River Forest Elementary building until the new complex is built.
Officials hope the new town complex can be constructed and opened in about a year.
Besides a new town hall, Pelfrey said there will be separate buildings for the Hobart Township trustee and the Hobart Township assessor, who will lease space from the town.
The town purchased the lot adjacent to the town hall in 2000. Each one-story building will be about 2,200 to 2,400 square feet, Pelfrey said. Parking will be on the perimeter of the complex.
There will be a separate building for the police and a police garage behind it. A meeting room, with seating for 100 people for town and community meetings, will be next to the trustee’s office. Pelfrey said community members will be able to rent the room for parties and events.
The town is using its American Rescue Plan Act funding along with the sale of revenue bonds to cover costs. The Lake County Council and Lake County Commissioners each directed $200,000 in ARPA funding for the project.
Earlier, Pelfrey said the town council opted to dedicate most of its $400,000 in ARPA funding for the project after completing a ventilation project required because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
