The former Haeger Potteries in East Dundee has become a magnet for trespassers and thieves, despite its windows being covered with plywood, its doorways secured and razor wire installed along the lower roof.
This week East Dundee Village Board trustees increased security another level by voting to have fencing erected around the village-owned site at 7 Maiden Lane.
There have been about 40 calls to the property in which people have been arrested on charges of theft, trespassing and criminal damage, officials said. One incident in February involved a fire
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.East Dundee Police Chief Joshua Fourdyce told the board the latest break-in occurred over the weekend when someone cut the razor wire along the lower roof. A person found to be taking copper wire was arrested, he said.
“It’s still happening,” he said. “Generally, it’s the same people doing it over and over again.”
Despite arrests being made, most of those facing charges haven’t shown up for court appearances, Fourdyce said.
Another factor contributing to the problem is the property is listed online as a place that’s easier to break into, the chief said.
The Haeger Potteries factory and store have been vacant since operations there ended in June 2016 after 145 years in business. It started as a brickyard, playing a large role in providing building materials for Chicago following the 1871 fire, and later transitioned to manufacturing pottery.
East Dundee purchased the 7-acre property for redevelopment and is currently working with Evanston-based Brinshore Development on plans for a mixed-income residential development.
The village’s efforts to prevent break-ins has been an ongoing battle, according to Phil Cotter, director of public works. The village faces the issue of liability should someone be injured on the site.
“They continuously break into areas already boarded up,” Cotter said.
Village crews sealed off four window wells on the east side of the building previously used to access the building, which is probably why the razor wire was cut over the weekend, he said.
Trustee Tricia Saviano said she lives near the property and has called the police whenever she’s seen someone on the site.
“I was in there, and I saw how dangerous it was,” Saviano said. “I get nervous every time I see kids over there.”
Safety is a big reason why Fourdyce doesn’t feel comfortable having his officers patrol the buildings on foot, he said.
The cost to rent 400 feet of 8-foot-tall, chain-link fencing with barbed wire along the top is $5,580 for two years. The board is also considering installing motion sensor lights and cameras.
“We are doing, obviously, a ton of stuff to try and keep people out,” Trustee Scott Kunze said. “They cut the razor wire (so) what is going to stop them from cutting the fence? … There comes a point where we are going to spend all this money to keep people out. I don’t know how far we want to go. Do we want to build a concrete fence?”
Village Administrator Erika Storlie said the village doesn’t really have a choice given the time it’s going to take to get the property redeveloped.
“The reality is this is going to be here a few years, and we need to keep it intact,” she said.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.