DuPage County Board members this week signaled help for utilizing fairground property for a brand new multimillion-dollar transportation advanced.
Division of Transportation officers informed board members that the prevailing storage, in-built 1957, has outlived its helpful life. In addition they stated the 58,000-square-foot construction is just too small to satisfy county wants.
Plans to make use of roughly 10 acres on the north finish of the fairgrounds would offer sufficient house for a brand new 160,000-square-foot storage, a salt shed and wash amenities for county autos.
The challenge, estimated to value between $73 million and $82 million, consists of 4.5 acres of inexperienced house and a brand new public restroom facility on the fairgrounds.
County board member Mary FitzGerald Ozog, who additionally heads the board’s transportation committee, careworn a great street system is important to the county’s financial success.
She famous the county’s division of transportation takes care of 220 miles of county highways and 92 miles of multiuse trails. It additionally maintains 650 autos within the countywide fleet and is liable for snow removing on county roads.
“All of this work is carried out from an virtually 70-year-old facility, and it must be changed,” Ozog stated.
The challenge could be unfold out over 4 finances cycles — together with $25 million earmarked within the 2025 finances board members accepted Tuesday.
The transportation division has sufficient funds readily available to cowl $60 million of the challenge prices. The remaining $22 million must come within the type of a mortgage from the county’s common fund or a financial institution. Whichever the case, the division of transportation would repay the mortgage over eight years.
Final week, county board members reviewed the outcomes of a feasibility research into the potential for a performing arts heart on the fairgrounds advanced. That research proposed an $87 million advanced that would come with a big outside live performance venue, three buildings for digital media, music and dance teaching programs and a smaller outside live performance venue.
On Tuesday, DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy appeared to sign help for the transportation advanced over a bigger performing arts heart.
“Eighty-seven million {dollars} for a Ravinia West that must be fully fundraised, I don’t consider is in my close to future as chair,” Conroy stated.
“Maybe as a board, we are able to shift from Ravinia West to salt shed west,” Conroy added later within the assembly.
She careworn the board wouldn’t be voting on “any arts heart, of any measurement, in any respect.” Somewhat, she stated, a compromise — reminiscent of together with a smaller outside live performance venue inside the plans for a brand new transportation advanced — would have a greater shot.
“A compromise the place we are able to improve what they do on the fairgrounds and make all of it work collectively … is what I might name a wonderful compromise,” she stated.
County board member Lynn LaPlante, who championed the feasibility research for a performing arts heart, didn’t remark throughout Tuesday’s assembly. LaPlante, nevertheless, has stated in latest weeks that she couldn’t help the “industrialization” of fairground property.
A handful of residents and fairground officers attended Tuesday’s assembly to specific concern concerning the county’s plans for the property.
Jim McGuire, supervisor of the DuPage County Truthful Affiliation, stated including a transportation advanced to the property might put the occasions on the fairgrounds in danger.
He famous the fairgrounds hosted 100 occasions this 12 months and has drawn greater than 320,000 guests. Lots of these occasions have been hosted on the north finish of the property the place county officers wish to find the transportation advanced, he added.
“That could be a main concern for the affiliation,” he stated.
County officers, nevertheless, famous that a part of the plans embrace tearing down the grandstands, which have been condemned already.
That may make means for a brand new inexperienced house that Ozog stated was the equal of three soccer fields. County officers famous that may create an area bigger than what was used for the Highland Video games on the fairgrounds.
Conroy stated the county met with fairgrounds officers and held prolonged discussions to achieve a compromise the place “everybody might get what’s wanted.”
County board members subsequent month are anticipated to approve a decision backing the challenge. Whereas county commissions would evaluate the plans, town of Wheaton would have the ultimate say on approvals.
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