The current owner of the old Administration building at the old Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Childrens School said over time, town support of redevelopment has paid off.
The ISSCS property, in fact is a case study in how long a successful redevelopment can take, decades, according to artist Nick Africano. Africano became involved in the property in 1986 when he and other investors bought out the Misch group, named for Attorney Paul Misch, which was embroiled in a suit with the state. Africano ended up with eleven buildings when he wanted only one.
He's still at it with the Town Council in Normal approving an estimated half million dollars in tear down costs for the old administration building in return for the land along Beech Street. Social media reaction was not altogether happy with the deal struck, and at least a couple council members had doubts too.
But, Africano laid out his view of the area as a public private partnership. Africano said he believes there is a lot of misperception over what has happened.
Speaking on GLT's Sound Ideas, artist Nick Africano said the public private partnership to tear down the dilapidated structure will improve neighborhood values much as Town help over decades allowed other buildings at the old orphan's home to become valuable.
"Just the eight cottages we have calculated the amount of property tax they have paid over the twenty years; one-point-two-million-dollars," said Africano.
In return for help with the demolition, Africano will undertake to renovate the former Infirmary building at ISSCS for a studio.
Africano said the decades long revival of ISSCS has been a huge undertaking with many participants.
"I see this as an astonishing collective effort by many people who have been behind the scenes, by people who did this on their own, with what I think are very modest resources," said Africano.
Some council members balked at funding the demolition when they do not know what the site will become. But, Africano said he is concerned about the safety around the building.
Africano said the half million dollars the town will pay to help demolish will prevent problems and at the very least keep the neighborhood environment wholesome.
He said it's also possible future development could generate tax dollars.
Africano also addressed historic preservationist concerns by noting many other buildings were unbuildable and could generate no interest. He said the maintenance building on Oglesby Avenue, the tennis courts, the staff residence across from the Baby Fold on Oglesby Avenue, one staff residence house, and t he librarian's cottage have all been torn down over the decades.
Listen to GLT's Charlie Schlenker interview Africano about the complex history of the site.
