While a final decision on the fate of the Heritage Center in Indian Head Park has yet to be made, the Indian Head Park Village Board on Thursday voted to approve soliciting bids for demolition of the building at 6250 S. Wolf Road.
The Heritage Center was purchased in 2001 with $350,000 from Illinois FIRST funds and became the village’s community center and library. Over the years, the village has made several improvements to the property, but the building has faced growing concerns regarding safety, accessibility, and structural integrity, according to village administrator Gavin Morgan. The building has been closed since June.
Morgan said it would cost an estimated $306,000 at minimum to repair the building, and that would just address basic structural and safety issues.
“However, to bring the building up to an appropriate standard for a public facility, the cost would be significantly higher—in the range of $1 million to $2 million—as estimated by a team from Performance Services upon a site visit,” he said. “These costs would include necessary safety upgrades, ADA compliance, and modernization to meet public building standards.”
Meanwhile, the cost of demotion is estimated at $30,000.
“Demolition remains a more cost-effective option at $30,000, especially when considering the extensive repairs required to make the building safe and functional for public use,” Morgan said. “Leaving the building as-is also exposes the village to increased liability risks and higher insurance premiums, according to a fall hazard assessment.
In addition, a 2022 inspection by Don Morris Architects identified numerous building code violations, including mold risks, Morgan said.
The Indian Head Park Village Community Library at the Heritage Center is something 10-year village resident Sharon Kalinoski said she will greatly miss if the building is demolished. The library has books that have been donated by residents from their own collections.
“Losing our library really is the big thing for me because I love libraries, and it’s been a great place to go,” Kalinoski said. “I think the village should at least pursue grants for repairs before making a final decision to demolish the building.”
The nearly 150-year-old building originally was the parsonage for Lyons Congregational Church and then became a private home before being purchased in 2001. It survived a bid by some village leaders to sell the building in 2017.
Village officials plan to get input from residents before making a final decision on the fate of the Heritage Center and plan to look for an alternate site for the library if the Village Board votes to have the building demolished. Bids for demolition are expected within the next two months.
Morgan said a non-binding 2014 referendum showed over 60% of voters favored selling the site. Current community feedback indicates mixed opinions, with some supporting the revitalization of the Heritage Center, while others suggest selling or repurposing the land. That pretty much matched resident comments at Thursday’s Village Board meeting.
Morgan said the 40,000 square-foot Heritage Center lot presents opportunities for future development that could better serve the community. Potential uses include a passive park, dog park, new library, or community center, all of which align with the village’s long-term goals of ensuring public safety, financial responsibility, and effective land use, he said.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.