W E D N E S D A Y
August 4, 2021 Vol. 42, No. 1 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Park district to demolish building on Madison St.
Oak Park site, adjacent to HQ, will be used for parking By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
The Park District of Oak Park (PDOP) is accepting bids to demolish a two-story office building adjacent to its headquarters. The park district bought building in 2019. Once leveled, the property will be converted into a parking lot for park district vehicles. “We’re looking to approve bids in August or September,” said PDOP Executive Director Jan Arnold. “The expectation is that we would see it demolished in probably October, November.” The park district purchased the property as is in 2019 at an agreed contract price of $477,560. While only one building, it is split into two addresses, with the top floor at 228 Madison St. and the bottom 230 Madison St. “We purchased it with the purpose to demolish it for park district bus and van parking,” said Arnold. A handful of spots will be reserved in the new surface parking lot for overflow visitor parking from the planned community recreation center which is intended to be built just across Madison Street. Arnold expects that about eight to 10 park district vehicles, which includes its two 15-passenger busses and one minivan, will be parked at any given time. The park district estimates the demolition will cost around $150,000 to $200,000 depending on the amount of environmental remediation See DEMOLITION on page 15
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
PROGRESS: Ashlie Stapleton, project manager with Pepper Construction, leads the way through a crowded hallway in Oak Park and River Forest High School.
Parts of Phase 1 of Imagine OPRF almost near completion
New welcome center, student common area about ready to go By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter
Portions of Phase One of Oak Park and River Forest High School’s major renovation project are expected to be completed before Aug. 16, the first day of school. That means staff and
students will be walking into a school building featuring a new welcome center and student commons. The first phase, a roughly $32.6 million project, is part of Imagine OPRF, a master facilities plan that aims to address the school’s lack of investment in the Scoville Avenue campus over several decades as well as rethink student gathering places and classrooms to reflect current needs. The district is working with FGM Architects and Pepper Construction Company on a long list of capital enhancements, ranging from revamping the See CONSTRUCTION on page 15
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