Elgin Seeks to Raze Long-Vacant, Dilapidated Bowling Alley: Lawsuit

ELGIN, IL - Elgin officials are seeking to have the owners of a long-vacant bowling alley on Elgin's east side either tear the building down, rehab it or rebuild it, the Elgin Courier-News reports. The building at 11 Woodview Drive, which once housed Woodview Lanes and before that, Espo's Country Lanes, has fallen into disrepair. Last month, the city filed a lawsuit against the owners of the building, which stated the property "is so dilapidated and in a state of disrepair as to be dangerous, unsafe, insanitary or otherwise unfit for human habitation or occupancy."

The site's owners are listed as Glorious Life Worship Center Church of God of Prophecy of Blue Island and The Miami Council for Church and Social Action, according to the Courier-News. The owners, the city claims, did not properly maintain the building's mechanical appliances, plumbing, electrical system and fire alarm and sprinkler system.

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Last February,the owners applied for a business license and for occupancy of the building with plans to provide religious instruction to large groups as well as offer indoor football and soccer, bowling, arts programming and a ministry area, according to the Elgin Courier-News. Elgin Community Development Director Marc Mylott responded in a letter and explained the site was not properly zoned for those uses and then laid out the steps they would need to take to move forward with their plans.

Glorious Life Worship Center Pastor Pagel Williams told the newspaper he is in talks with the city and was considering demolishing, rebuilding or selling the site.

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