Morrison hits milestone on downtown renovation
MORRISON – The City Council has OK’d what could be taxpayers’ final bill to secure a downtown building and save a 150-year-old landmark from near-certain demolition.
The council Monday unanimously authorized a $120,000 payment to Key Builders in Princeton for work done at 101 W. Main St., a historically significant 3-story brick building that partially collapsed into Genesee Street last spring.
The city’s cost to save the building now totals about $336,000, about $86,000 more than the $250,000 estimate authorized last September. The building has become a recurring talking point for residents concerned with what they perceive to be loose spending by the council.
City Hall and council members say saving the building is an investment in downtown and was the most desirable among a set of bad options.
“There were several other solutions, but I think this is the best one,” City Administrator Tim Long said.
“Eventually, it will be sold, and it’ll be a thing of the past, and we’ll be glad we did this,” Alderwoman Barb Bees said.
When engineers declared the building in danger of collapse last year, the city stepped in and tried to persuade the owners to fix it up.
They didn’t, and the east wall slid into Genesee Street a month later. The city took over the deed, and owners paid $50,000 for cleanup.
What comes next for the building is uncertain.
Work stopped with no electrical, plumbing, windows, doors, interior or exterior finish work done, including neither brick nor final roofing. It remains structurally sound, but is not in move-in condition.
The council now must decide whether to sell or invest more in the project.
A timeline of events
Events that led to the Morrison City Council’s Monday decision to spend $120,000 on 101 W. Main St.:
August 2008: The city code enforcement officer gets permission to have a structural engineer inspect 101 W. Main St. after a large fissure opens on the east wall.
September 2008: Engineering firm Wiss, Janney, and Elstner of Northbrook reports the building is in danger of collapse, endangering the integrity of 103 W. Main next door. The city installs construction fencing to establish a safe perimeter around the building, which also closes Genesee Street.
October through December 2008: The city obtains quotes for both repair and demolition, and shares that information with building owner, who declines to take action.
January 2009: The east wall pulls farther away from building, and the city obtains a court order that forces the owners to let city workers install temporary shoring to prevent a catastrophic collapse.
February 2009: Development consultants with Peoples Economic Development Corp. approach the city with a pledge to help breathe life into the aging downtown business district. Peoples says the city could become an example of a national historic district and that 101 West Main is essential to qualifying for grants under federal standards.
May 2009: The east wall collapses at the second-floor level, sliding into Genesee Street. Interior scaffolding holds the third floor, and neighboring buildings at 103-107 W. Main St. are unharmed.
June 2009: The city drops a lawsuit against the owner once it buys the building for $1 and he agrees to pay $50,000 for site cleanup.
September 2009: City Council votes 7-1 to spend $250,000 on winterizing the building. Peoples maintains the grant is coming.
Monday night: City Council OKs $120,000 construction tab for winterizing, which makes the building structurally sound but includes no brick laying, electrical or plumbing work, and a rudimentary roof. Grant status remains unclear.
