Bess Hardware building looks to be demolished by end of the year
Citing continued costs of maintenance, the Glenview Village Board on Nov. 5 awarded a contract for demolition of 1850 Glenview Rd., the former site of Bess Hardware.
The village-owned property, bordered by Glenview Road between Lehigh and Pine streets, is targeted for a 68-unit mixed use development under management of The Drake Group.
Trustees voted 6-0 to award a contract worth $78,650 to Fowler Services Inc. to demolish the building. The timeline has the demolition completed by the end of the year.
When demolition was previously discussed at the board's July 21 meeting the cost was estimated to be $50,000, split between $25,000 in Drake escrow funds and the remainder from village money, to be reimbursed by Drake upon the property's closing, which has been extended to Jan. 19, 2021.
During the bid process asbestos was found in floor tile, mastic and roof sealant, increasing the total demolition costs submitted in Fowler Services' winning bid to $78,650 with the village's portion to be $53,650. Drake would pay that amount unless the sale does not go through.
None of the trustees nor Village President Jim Patterson saw reason to maintain the vacant structure given the costs related to maintaining it. In his report Glenview director of community development Jeff Brady stated the outlay was $28,000 including $10,000 for ongoing maintenance.
"I just think tearing down the building is a must," said trustee Deb Karton, who didn't want to dedicate "good money after bad" on a property destined for redevelopment. She also didn't want an accident occurring in the building that could endanger its neighbors.
Trustee Mike Jenny said receiving a "cost share" by The Drake Group for demolition was an opportunity not to pass up. Fellow trustee Mary Cooper said that between the asbestos on the site and the condition of the building, its time had come.
Cooper didn't want to "waste money on trying to maintain this blighted building that needs to come down," she said.
She also alluded to "discussion about how things are going to precede."
That discussion would include a topic Glenview resident LaRue Highsmith mentioned in public comments prior to the vote: The mixed-use development remains the subject of a lawsuit filed against the Village of Glenview by two neighboring townhouse associations and five individuals.
On Oct. 23 a Cook County circuit court issued an order that the plaintiff's motion to exceed a 15-page limit for case filing will be ruled in conjunction with the village's motion to dismiss the suit. The court set the hearing for Feb. 4, 2021.
A complication with that date is the Jan. 19 deadline for closing of the sale of the property by the village to the developer, which could occur earlier if clear title or title insurance to the property is delivered.