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Burr Ridge staff lays out three village‑hall options; board leans toward police‑department addition
Summary
Village manager Evan Walter presented three options to address the failing village‑hall building — renovate the existing hall (~$4.9M), add space to the police department (~$6.85M not‑to‑exceed), or construct a new standalone hall (~$7.5M plus land). Trustees asked for more renderings and direction; no final vote was taken.
Village manager Evan Walter told trustees on June 9 that increasing maintenance and capital costs have created a near‑term decision point for the village hall building, built in 1985 and showing wear across mechanical systems, envelope and site features.
Walter presented three options for the board to consider: (1) a phased renovation of the existing building to extend its useful life roughly 40 years (staff estimated roughly $4.9 million in staged work over the next three to five years), (2) a roughly 7,000‑square‑foot addition tied to the police department (a staff not‑to‑exceed figure of $6.85 million was presented, with overall financing estimated in staff slides), and (3) a standalone new building, priced at about $7.5 million for construction and site work (land acquisition would be additional).
Staff walked trustees through the major renovation scopes: replacement of four original rooftop air‑handling units and modernization of temperature controls and variable‑air‑volume systems; electrical upgrades including a larger distribution panel and LED lighting; plumbing and fire‑suppression repiping; site and roof work; and an option to abandon basement occupancy and relocate critical functions to the first floor to avoid an elevator replacement and reduce overall cost. Walter said the village currently has roughly $6.5 million in cash available and could afford any of the three options without new debt if that is the board’s direction.
Trustees asked detailed questions about service life, staging during construction and parking impacts. The board discussed specific site ideas, including building adjacent to the police department and reorienting the facade to present a stronger village‑hall presence on County Line Road. Several trustees signaled preference for refining option two (an addition to the police department) while also asking staff to continue developing a standalone building concept and possible land options.
No final decision or formal vote was taken; staff said it will return with sharper cost estimates, renderings and site alternatives at a future meeting.
Why it matters: The village hall houses the mayor and about 15 staff and includes a 35‑person boardroom that limits public capacity; staff said deferred maintenance could produce high emergency repair costs and the board is weighing long‑term lifecycle costs against up‑front construction and land choices.
Next steps: Staff will produce additional renderings, refined cost estimates and site options (including the possibility of building on or near County Line Road or acquiring adjacent lots) for further board consideration.
