At their February 9 meeting, the Lake County Forest Preserve Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of 6.59 acres and an office building, off of Winchester Road just east of Route 45 in Libertyville, for $4.1 million to consolidate eight of the District’s offices and for future relocation of the Lake County Discovery Museum.
Cost-effective Solution, Improves Efficiency and Saves Money
“This building is a great value for the taxpayers, and allows the Lake County Forest Preserves to save money on operating costs and building repairs, while improving administrative efficiency. It is by far the most cost-effective long-term solution to the Forest Preserve District’s substantial facility infrastructure issues,” said Bonnie Thomson Carter, President of the Lake County Forest Preserves.
Purchase of the building will not use any voter-approved referendum funds, which are restricted for purchasing lands, restoring habitats, creating new trails and completing other improvements in the Forest Preserves. Instead, the Forest Preserve District will use capital funds that have been saved over the past 10 years specifically for buying a new building to solve the District’s infrastructure needs.
“This building will give us enough office space to consolidate our staff under one roof. Currently, 115 staff members are housed in eight inefficient, old buildings, mostly former houses and farm buildings, scattered miles apart around the county,” said Pat Carey, Chair of the Forest Preserve District’s Facilities Committee. “Right from the start, we will save nearly $900,000 in immediate repairs and renovations that otherwise must be completed to maintain these old structures.”
“It’s a buyer’s market right now for existing office buildings. We’ll pay just $40 per square foot, when typically it would cost two to three times as much to buy an existing office building and five to six times as much to build a new building,” said Carol Calabresa, Forest Preserve District Vice President and Chair of the District’s Planning and Restoration Committee. “Reusing a building rather than constructing a new one is environmentally responsible. And it’s located in the center of the county near major roadways and public transit, making it convenient to people from throughout the county.”
The District recognizes this is an opportunity to save an estimated $1 million in operating costs over five years through the efficiencies of consolidating into one office building. The District estimates that staff wastes 4,000 hours annually traveling between the eight buildings. Savings also will result from discontinuing use of inefficient buildings, eliminating the need for renting office space, and reducing duplication of equipment and repair and maintenance services.
Growth Needs
The District now operates and manages more than 27,700 acres of Forest Preserves in Lake County, and is continuing to grow. The building will meet the District’s current and future needs for efficient office and support spaces.
The current General Offices have been located in an old house located north of Libertyville since the late 1970s, when the District owned about 2,600 acres, less than one-tenth of its current holdings. As the District has grown, the original offices were expanded, and other older buildings, mostly houses or farm buildings, were converted for office use. Those spaces are now overcrowded and in need of extensive renovation if they are to continue to be used.
The Forest Preserves’ Lake County Discovery Museum also will move from Lakewood Forest Preserve to the building in Libertyville, which allows the Museum to better protect and display its irreplaceable historic artifacts. Private donations will fund museum relocation. The nationally accredited museum – a distinction held by less than 1 percent of museums in the United States – will have twice the exhibit space for its historic collections, which include the nation’s largest postcard collection. The centrally located site and expanded exhibit space are estimated to triple attendance at the museum from its current 45,000 visitors annually, attracting from 100,000 to 135,000 people a year in the future.
“As the museum’s community support group, the Friends of the Lake County Discovery Museum is proud and excited to be part of this move,” said Marci Jumisko, the organization’s president. “We look forward to working with officials from the Village of Libertyville and surrounding communities and with area school districts on a strategic plan to maximize the educational potential and the tourism benefits of the Discovery Museum.”
Next Steps
The purchase is contingent upon the passage of safety, structural and environmental inspections during February through April, and completion of a final closing in June. If both actions are successful, office consolidation would take place in the next 12 months followed by the museum relocation in 2 to 3 years. The Board also examined how to reuse or remove the eight old structures that now house office and museum staff.
Building Basics
- Location: centrally located at the corner of Winchester Road and Technology Way, just east of Route 45 in Libertyville
- Age: Constructed 1999 and available since early 2008
- Description: Three stories above ground totaling 93,231 square feet, plus 9,762 square feet underground. Space for all General Offices staff initially and 20 Museum staff when relocated. Has room for future growth in staffing levels if needed.
- Purchase price: $40 per square foot; $4,119,720 total
- Building and site description: 6.59 acres; 430 public parking spaces; energy efficient raised flooring and office lighting systems, and abundant natural light in work areas. The building is in very good condition and will require only minor renovations prior to use for Forest Preserve offices.
- Space use allocation: Third floor will house General Offices; Second floor will have Museum archives and collections, and public meeting rooms; First floor will include Museum exhibit galleries and store, and public reception; and Basement will have support and storage spaces, and District vehicle parking.
To view photos of the building and find additional information visit online at www.LCFPD.org/offices. |
