Normal is taking steps to preserve a historic bell tower that’s stood nearly 85 years on South Fell Avenue.
The Normal Town Council on Monday awarded Bloomington-based Garneau Construction a nearly $145,000 contract to handle the specialized masonry and other tasks at the Broadview Mansion bell tower.
In the brief 10-minute meeting, the council also rezoned the West Hovey Avenue property of Grace Church, and approved a site plan for putting ground-mounted solar panels there.
Council members Andy Byars and Chemberly Harris were absent Monday.
Broadview Mansion tower
The Normal Historic Preservation Committee recommended the council fund the maintenance and repairs for the brick tower that stands on the south section of the three-acre Broadview Mansion site. The town's had an agreement to handle exterior maintenance there for several years. The property, also known as Van Leer's Broadview Mansion, is to the north of Illinois Wesleyan University and to the east of Carle BroMenn Medical Center.
The mansion was completed in 1906, and the 110-foot-tall tower followed circa 1940. The structures, at 1301 S. Fell Ave., have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2016.
Planned tower updates include some demolition, masonry parapet repairs, tuckpointing, and mechanical ventilation to the tower. Garneau’s was the lowest of three bids received.
The work stems from a broader 2022 proposal to maintain several historic sites in Normal. That building repair and maintenance project will preserve the mansion buildings, and two other historic Normal properties — Sprague Service Center and Hewitt House.
The initial bid for the entire project was rejected for coming in over budget. Later, town staff decided a better approach was to rebid the bell tower as a solo masonry project.
At Monday's meeting, council member Kathleen Lorenz questioned why Garneau's $144,180 bid was so much lower than the other two. Otto Baum's bid came in at nearly $600,00; and River City's was closer to $700,000.
City Manager Pam Reece said the higher bidders potentially have quite a bit of work on their plate, and that might have factored into their bids. Also, Garneau is using a means-and-methods strategy that might be more efficient, said Reece. She also noted the architect the town worked with on the proposal reviewed the bids, and is confident Garneau can complete the work as outlined.
Immanuel Bible Foundation, which owns the mansion, hosts a variety of events on the grounds at the corner of Fell Avenue and Francis Street. Its summer concert series has two more programs — Heartland Jazz Orchestra performs July 23, and Red Wheelbarrow’s concert is Aug. 27. The free shows are 4 to 6 p.m., and are open to the public.
Solar panels at Grace Church
For years, Grace Church, 1311 W. Hovey Ave., has operated on a special-use permit in a residential zone.
But to accommodate the solar array it seeks for its space, the council first had to approve rezoning the property to S-2, a designation for public lands and institutions. The Normal Planning Commission recommended the change.
The council approved rezoning to S-2, and then OK’d the site plan for the solar panel arrays.
In other business, the council approved:
- A $42,000 contract to George Gildner to handle a pipe extension that’s part of a well relocation project. The town saved money by using in-house staff on the project, said council member Karyn Smith.
