A New Idea For Future Burr Ridge Village Hall

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge officials are moving away from the possibility of building a new Village Hall at the Village Center shopping center.

Now, they are looking at building an addition on the front of the neighboring 15-year-old police station – or possibly constructing a standalone Village Hall next to the station.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, officials presented three options – renovate the current 40-year-old Village Hall, add to the police station or build anew. None of the options would require the village to go into debt, according to the village.

Renovating the current Village Hall would cost $4.9 million. Much of that involves replacing mechanical systems, some of which Village Administrator Evan Walter described as being in a "disaster state."

The improvements could extend the building's life by 40 years, according to the village.

In January, the village said the upgrades would cost $6 million. But the village now says it can cut that amount, in large part, by abandoning the basement.

Village Hall has fewer employees than it used to; it now has a dozen who regularly come in. This means less space is needed.

In January, village officials appeared to have their hearts set on constructing a building near Starbucks at Village Center. At the time, the project was estimated to cost $10.5 million.

As part of that plan, Pleasantdale School District 107 would buy the current Village Hall for a preschool, but later abandoned that idea.

During Monday's meeting, some trustees said they liked the idea of adding onto the police station, which is estimated to cost $6.9 million.

Trustee Russell Smith noted the $650,000 needed to fix the heating and ventilation system at the police station. That cost could be shared with the addition, he said.

"You would probably have shared electrical. You could have shared services," Smith said.

Trustee Guy Franzese agreed.

"That would be the most efficient, cost-effective option," he said.

Administrator Walter said an addition has a big advantage.

"It's one less roof. It's one less everything," he said. "It's one less building for us to go to."

Mayor Gary Grasso said he wanted Village Hall to be the most prominent on the site. He said the village should be architecturally creative for a "wow factor" on County Line Road.

"This is the Village Hall of Burr Ridge, and this police department is part of it," he said.

Walter said he felt like he had direction and that he would provide more information to the board.

Based on interest, officials believe the current Village Hall could sell for at least $2 million.