The Public Works Committee voted this week to recommend spending $22,000 on a second architectural study of the one-room Churchville schoolhouse. The City Council is expected to vote on the study Monday.
The new study would flesh out the findings of an architectural survey performed last year, which estimated the cost of basic preservation for the historic landmark at about $200,000 and the cost of complete restoration at $571,000.
It would specify what types of materials and styles of fixtures need to be used to maintain the building’s authenticity, said Elmhurst Historical Museum Director Brian Bergheger.
The study also would let officials know what work would be involved in restoring the schoolhouse to federal standards for landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places, even though the city is not required to meet that standard.
“I think it would be a good idea to use the Department of the Interior’s standards because that would be good stewardship of the building,” said City Manager Thomas Borchert. “More important, bringing it up to that standard could make it available for federal funding.”