Naperville To Demolish Water Tower West, Add Commuter Lot

NAPERVILLE, IL — As the ongoing project to revitalize Naperville's 5th Avenue moves forward, city officials have opted to demolish Water Tower West, the city's former public works facility. The building, which is located at 414 E. 4th Ave., would require "aggressive maintenance and repair options," so the most cost-effective option would be to demolish it and convert the area into a commuter parking lot, officials said in a news release.

The commuter parking lot would provide the city with 250 additional paid parking spots.

The building has been unoccupied since 2009, when Naperville moved its Public Works Department to Fort Hill Drive. In the meantime, it has served as a storage space and as a training facility for the Naperville Police Department.

Before making the decision to demolish the Water Tower West building, city officials weighed other options to revitalize the structure, which currently has "roof leaks, interior deterioration, and mechanical failures."

The first option, to maintain the Water Tower West building for five to 10 years, would require $675,000 in initial repairs and $30,000 in annual maintenance. The second option, to maintain the building for the next five years, had an initial price tag of $32,000 to fix basic heating issues and an ongoing cost of $30,000 for annual maintenance.

The option to demolish Water Tower West and convert it to a commuter lot was estimated to cost $495,000. Officials say the paid parking spaces would recoup that cost within five years.

City officials say a bid on the project to demolish and pave the space will likely be reviewed at the upcoming meeting on June 18. The goal is to have Water Tower West demolished and replaced with a commuter parking lot by the end of October.