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Re:BUILDING

Volume 22 - October, 2004

Published by Martin Hackl, Oak Park, Illinois

Letter to local papers, September 15, 2004

Preservation in River Forest - Women's Club Still in Jeopardy.

Historic Preservation may not be taking any steps backwards yet, but it is
also not moving forward in River Forest.  The future survival of the
historic River Forest Women's Club building is still very much in question,
even though it is the "poster child" of preservation in that community.

If that building is not saved, I don't think River Forest will retain any
credibility when there are future discussions about saving historic and
significant architecture in the Village.

Given the indifferent reaction to the destruction of the also historic
Richard Bock house last year, and the almost total apathy now towards the
Women's Club building, it almost looks to me like River Forest is starting
to move backwards.

Last year, anticipating the probable turnover of the building to the River
Forest Park District, who coveted and aggressively pursued acquiring the
property - then lavished promises on the women that the Park District was
interested in preserving and restoring the Women's Club, despite being
fiscally broke - several people on the outside, including myself, expressed
doubts as to the sincerity of the Park District and questioned their
motives.

As a result, discussions were initiated between the Women's Club and the
Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois to donate a Preservation Easement
on the historic building - so that no matter who owns the building in the
future, it must be preserved and maintained.  With a preservation easement,
it could never be torn down, and the beautiful interior could never be
essentially changed, ensuring that the public would be able to use and enjoy
the great architecture in perpetuity.

A preservation easement should be an easy step, especially as it costs
nothing to the donor in this case.

Last fall it looked like there would be some success.  But now there is only
disillusionment.  Even though the membership of the Women's Club voted in an
overwhelming majority, at a general membership meeting last year - a meeting
which was specifically called to discuss and vote on the issue - to donate
the easement to the LPCI, the acting president of the Women's Club, Marilyn
Organ, has refused to sign the easement.

It is also pretty clear by now that the Park District has no interest in
acquiring the building with a preservation easement attached to it.  The
obvious threat is that they will not take the building off the women's
hands, though the women are very eager to divest themselves of the building
and its ongoing maintenance, which they can no longer afford.

The obvious conclusion to make is that the Park District doesn't wish to
make any commitment towards the building's preservation, and will wait it
out until the Women acquiesce and donate it without a protective easement.

One of the problems, as I see it, is that Mrs. Organ and her husband have
had a longstanding relationship with the Park District, which raises some
questions, and in my view, some conflicts of interest.  Joe Organ was the
superintendent of the Park District for many years before current
Superintendent, and Mr. Organ's protégé Tom Grundin took over the job.

In a strange twist, the Landmarks Preservation Council is now negotiating
with the Park District, and has been for almost a year now, over the
building that the Park District does not even own yet.  Both the LPCI, and
those negotiating for the Women's Club and Park District, have been
secretive about why the Park District continues to reject the easement -
even though it is not theirs to reject.

I urge all parties involved to live up to the wishes of the women of the
Club and sign the easement immediately.  The affirmative vote on the motion,
of the majority of members at an official meeting, is a legally binding
mandate, and should be carried out without hesitation.  What are you waiting
for?

Marty Hackl
Oak Park
 

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