It would cost $8 million to provide parking and bring two main buildings at Mayslake up to local and federal standards, Du Page County Forest Preserve officials were told by committee staff members Thursday.
Before giving final approval to seek public money to buy the historic property near Oak Brook, officials want to resolve several unanswered questions. Who would foot the $8 million bill is a major concern of Forest Preserve commissioners, who don`t want to ”get stuck” with the buildings, according to Commissioner Floyd Sanford of Medinah.
Sanford suggested that county law enforcement officials might use the structures for drug, alcohol and work-release programs if plans for others to occupy them do not develop.
Alexander A. Ertas, who said he was director of Atelier International, a group claiming links to artists and cultural organizations throughout the world, has told commissioners that many foreign countries would help his group maintain the structures if it is allowed to occupy the space.
Although the district has tentatively approved asking voters on Nov. 3 to approve a bond sale to keep the 90-acre site near 31st Street and Illinois Highway 83 from being sold to a private developer, it faces an Aug. 29 deadline for finishing the proposal.
Commissioner Michael R. Formento of Glen Ellyn, participating in a meeting Thursday of the Special Committee on Mayslake, said the district
”should be honest and straightforward” on how much money would be needed to buy, refurbish and maintain the property.
The cost, without the expenses for refurbishing, has been estimated as high as $21 million, officials said.
A referendum to allow a bond issue of $15 million for the district to buy the property was defeated in March.
Preservationists and environmentalists have urged that another attempt be made to acquire the land for recreational and environmental purposes, although Shannon & Associates Ltd., a developer, has a contract with the owners, the Franciscan Friars of Illinois, to buy the property.
Shannon`s initial plan to build private homes on what was once part of the Peabody coal company family estate was rejected last month by the Oak Brook Plan Commission, but only because it failed to meet ”technical requirements” of village ordinances.
The offer from the group headed by Ertas is to take over the two largest of three buildings on the property at no cost, ”keep them as intact as possible,” and help pay the cost of maintaining the structures.
Ertas said there could be theatrical programs, workshops with European artists-in-residence and art classes on the property. ”Most of the money (to operate in the buildings) would come from countries that would donate to be sure their culture is exuded in our country,” he said.
