HOFFMAN ESTATES
Schoolhouse razing delayed by dispute
The demolition of Lindbergh Schoolhouse will be delayed at least a month because Hoffman Estates trustees failed to agree on whether to give preservationists time to raise money to save the building.
The Village Board’s Planning, Building and Zoning Committee on Monday refused to delete a clause in a deal with developer Dartmoor Homes that requires the 77-year-old schoolhouse to be preserved. Trustees also delayed accepting $100,000 from Dartmoor for general historical preservation.
Last week, trustees backed Dartmoor’s plan to demolish the building at Shoe Factory Road and Essex Drive after building renovation estimates started at $300,000.
Committee Chairman Gary Pilafas suggested a three- to six-month period to allow any group to seek funding.
Trustee Raymond Kincaid said that after the property is fixed up, using the $100,000 from the developer, he is confident others will come forward with donations.
Ken Manson
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PALATINE
Councilman’s stint ends after 27 years
Councilman James V. Wilson’s 27 years on Palatine’s Village Council ended this week.
“The most important thing accomplished while I was on the council was the acquisition of water from Lake Michigan,” Wilson said Monday. “Without that water we would be sucking up mud from dry wells.”
Elected in 1980, Wilson lost his District 2 seat in April to Scott Lamerand, who was sworn in at Monday’s meeting.
Even on his way out, Wilson was looking to the future and the downtown makeover.
“This is the fastest-growing redevelopment in the surrounding towns.” he said. “We need to get faster in getting stuff done there. This is a totally new revenue stream for Palatine.”
Mayor Rita Mullins praised Wilson for his work in the village, which has grown from a population of 33,000 to more than 75,000 during his time on the council.
A meeting room in the Illinois Avenue firehouse will be renamed in honor of Wilson, officials said.
Paul Zeissler