Pleasantdale May Buy Burr Ridge Village Hall: Mayor

BURR RIDGE, IL – Pleasantdale School District 107 is considering buying Burr Ridge Village Hall for an all-day kindergarten, the mayor said this week.

For years, the district has been looking for a place for what has been described as an early childhood education center.

Most of the Village Board appears to favor building a new Village Hall next to Starbucks at the Village Center shopping complex.

The 40-year-old Village Hall has been appraised at $1 million, officials said. The village said the building needs millions of dollars in improvements.

During this week's Village Board meeting, Mayor Gary Grasso revealed Pleasantdale is interested in the building, particularly because it is next to the police station.

"We think we can sell it for a price that is well over the appraised value because of the added value of the building being where it is and especially in proximity to the police department," the mayor said.

He said Pleasantdale indicated it would be able to refurbish the building for its purposes.

Pleasantdale's superintendent, Dave Palzet, did not return an emailed message for comment Thursday morning.

In November, Lyons Township High School officials said Pleasantdale expressed interest in a part of the high school's Willow Springs land next to the district's elementary school.

The high school board's president, Jill Grech, said during a meeting that Pleasantdale wants six acres of the high school's land "to build a new facility, accommodate a parking lot, expand traffic patterns and ensure enough green and playground space."

"As of right now, they feel six acres is sufficient to accommodate those needs," Grech said. "They noted those six acres could be purchased, donated or a combination of both if or when we get to that point."

At the time, Palzet did not return a message for comment.