Illinois
Landmarks Illinois urges city to continue to look at Bresee options
Jun. 4—Landmarks Illinois, a statewide membership-based historic preservation nonprofit group, has despatched a letter to the Danville Metropolis Council relating to the town pursuing the demolition of Bresee Tower.
In accordance with Landmarks Illinois officers, Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. is pursuing demolition of the historic constructing with out contemplating all potential reuse choices.
Landmarks Illinois included Bresee Tower on its Most Endangered Historic Locations in Illinois in 2012 and has been monitoring potential preservation progress on the property, together with being involved with builders who’ve expressed curiosity in rehabilitating the historic constructing, in accordance with Kaitlyn McAvoy, communications supervisor with Landmarks Illinois.
The letter from Quinn Adamowski, regional advocacy supervisor, states Landmarks Illinois is an “on-the-ground advocate, providing technical help, sensible assets, small grants and entry to strategic partnerships to present individuals the instruments they should save essential locations of their communities.”
“Now we have monitored the begins, pauses and lulls in redevelopment efforts. Now we have additionally intently watched media protection over the previous couple of years by which the one public narrative is that the biggest constructing in Vermilion County should be demolished with out giving due consideration to potential reuse. We perceive the place Mayor Williams stands. Nevertheless, with no public debate, it’s unknown the place members of the group, if introduced with all of the information and opinions, would stand on this problem.”
The letter continues, “Now that the town has the deed to the constructing, successfully making Bresee Tower a public-owned construction, civic leaders have an obligation to current taxpayers with all potential choices for its future. If, finally, there isn’t a curiosity in redeveloping Bresee Tower, then the mayor can be confirmed right in his evaluation that, as he said (to media) … “There isn’t any chance for this to be reimagined at this level.” Are the residents of Danville okay with the town spending $3 million, an estimate from 2018, on tearing down a constructing with out investigating potential curiosity for redevelopment?”
“On Sept. 13, 2018, Bresee Tower (formally the First Nationwide Financial institution Constructing) was listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations. Along with the popularity as a helpful place worthy of preservation, this designation opens the door to vital monetary incentives for personal reuse. With itemizing on the Nationwide Register, a reuse venture of Bresee Tower might make the most of a 20 p.c Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit score. Communities have leveraged this federal incentive to spark financial exercise and job creation. Bresee Tower provides this chance to Danville. Additionally, there’s an Illinois Historic Preservation Tax Credit score that may be layered with the federal credit score to offer a further 25 p.c credit score for historic rehabilitation initiatives.”
“To be clear, highlighting federal and state historic preservation tax credit is extraordinarily essential to draw skilled builders. Landmarks Illinois has been involved with two builders with curiosity within the property. One in every of them, Celadon Properties, has a proposal to redevelop Bresee Tower utilizing federal and state historic preservation tax credit alongside reasonably priced housing primarily based monetary incentives. We’re conscious that Mayor Williams has had conversations with Celadon Properties about its proposal and that he recommended their venture wouldn’t be a viable use of the constructing. We consider there needs to be a public dialogue concerning the proposal from Celadon Properties, which is assured its proposals is viable. We additionally assist issuing an RFP (request for proposals) that can probably end in proposals from different builders who’ve an award-winning observe document like Celadon Properties.”
“Personal rehabilitation would end in job creation, tax revenues and would keep away from the $3 million price of demolition. We consider a reuse possibility that would generate financial exercise and new property tax revenue, leverage state and federal incentives and stop taxpayer-funded demolition is price contemplating.”
“In accordance with Mayor Williams, the town can be issuing an RFP for demolition. We name on the mayor and different civic leaders to concurrently problem an RFP for redevelopment so that every one choices have a good public listening to. We encourage the Danville Metropolis Council to work with native advocates and organizations like Landmarks Illinois to guage options and leverage incentives earlier than transferring ahead with pursuing the demolition of Bresee Tower.”
The letter additionally was copied to Williams, Logan Cronk with the Metropolis of Danville, state Sen. Scott Bennett, state Rep. Mike Marron and Vermilion Benefit’s Tim Dudley.
Williams went inside Bresee Tower earlier this week and mentioned, “Sadly, it is trashed. It is method worse than I believed it will be.”
He walked by all 12 flooring. The constructing has dangerous infiltration of water the place the carpets on the seventh flooring had been drenched, and there was water injury on different flooring, such because the fourth and fifth flooring, Williams mentioned.
“Sadly, it is simply nasty and terribly far gone,” Williams mentioned.
In response to the Landmarks Illinois letter, Williams mentioned the Collinses had 4 years to do one thing, and nothing was executed. They’ve not fulfilled guarantees made since November 2018, he mentioned.
Williams additionally mentioned basically he is had conversations with potential improvement teams, together with Celadon, however he was not given data he requested.
Town is ready to see if there can be an precise enchantment over the deed switch of Bresee Tower to the town. Metropolis officers are also continuing with demolition RFPs.