Eyesore on Des Plaines Avenue Could Come Down Early Next Year

A building across from Forest Park Village Hall that has been an eyesore since it was destroyed by fire more than two years ago soon will be coming down.

Commissioners Monday awarded a contract to D.M.D. Services of Northlake to raze 512 Des Plaines Ave. The cost of the demolition will be $19,850.

Money for the project will come from the refinancing of debt approved by commissioners last month.

The lone vote against was from Commissioner Chris Harris who said while he thought the building should come down, he didn't feel that the village explored all of its options.

Discussions have not yet begun as to when the building will be razed, Village Administrator Tim Gillian said. The company will have to get a permit from Cook County, but he believes demolition could take place sometime in January.

A number of proposals had been floated for the building including giving it—as is—to the Forest Park Historical Society and Chamber of Commerce, or partnering with a "green technology" company to rehab the building into an alternate technology showroom.

Karen Childs, vice president of the Forest Park Public Library Board, has requested that the two-flat property be razed and used for library parking.

Rehab was rejected as a prospect for the building, as it became far more expensive to do, village officials said. Over the 2-1/2 years since the fire, the building deteriorated further and the roof collapsed, making it even more difficult to rehab.

What will happen with the land could still be part of the comprehensive plan, a document that determines a town's goals and aspirations in terms of community planning. Questions about that parcel and another at Altenheim may be on a survey sent to residents next year.

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