For years it had become clear that the Village of Willow Springs needed a new home for its Administration and Police Department. The existing combined Village Hall/Police building was over 60 years old, severely undersized and beyond repair. Rather than construct a new building, with estimated costs approaching $100.00 per square foot, the President and Board of Trustees found a suitable vacant building in the Village to acquire and rehabilitate. The building was the former United Auto Worker's Meeting Hall, which had been vacant for over 3 years. The UAW building had plenty of room for both the Village's administrative offices and its Police Department, including all required jail cells and holding areas, as well as a generous site for the Village's parking needs.

Although the building needed substantial rehabilitation,

and despite the unknown, but always expected "hidden problems" associated with the rehabilitation of an existing older building, the vacant building was transformed into a modern municipal/police facility at a cost of less than $60.00 per square foot. Besides the cost savings, the choice to rehab the UAW Hall also presented an opportunity for the Village to improve its image especially since the property is located along a major traffic artery. We are hopeful that our decision and action will spur additional rehab work not only in the adjacent areas, but also in our business areas.

The Village was assisted in this project by Architect, Ray Chocholek, A.I.A., Principal of Interplan Practice, Ltd.; the General Contractor, Talsma Builders, Inc.; and Village Attorney, Richard J. Skrodzki, allot whom provided capable guidance through the often difficult problems associated in this project. And, special thanks must be given to Trustee June Phillips who donated her professional interior design services gratis to the Village to decorate and furnish our new home.

The new Village Hall/Police Facility opened in July of 1993 and has proved to be both a functional space and a needed resource for our community, while providing an improved appearance for our Village.

February 1994 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 9