CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Consider adopting a resolution authorizing the City to tender up to $562,000 to Little Friends in exchange for recording covenants upon the Kroehler Mansion to preserve it from demolition.
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DEPARTMENT: Legal Department
SUBMITTED BY: Michael DiSanto, City Attorney
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
On October 24, 2019, the Historic Preservation Commission reviewed Little Friends' request to demolish four buildings on its property. The HPC unanimously approved the demolition of the Krejci Academy, the Gymnasium, and the Administration Building and denied the demolition of the Kroehler Mansion ("Mansion").
BACKGROUND:
Little Friends Property
Little Friends, Inc. ("Little Friends") is a charitable organization dedicated to education,
treatment, housing and growth for those with intellectual/developmental disabilities and
autism. Little Friends owns the 3.79-acre property located at 140 North Wright Street in Naperville (the "Property"). For the past 44 years Little Friends has operated the Property as a not-for-profit teaching and educational facility for students and adults with autism and other intellectual/developmental disabilities. The school is not self-sustaining and the ability for Little Friends to continue to provide services to those with disabilities has always been reliant upon very substantial fundraising, charitable gifts and donations.
Little Friends needs to relocate the teaching and educational programs to a new site. To
accomplish this relocation, Little Friends must sell the Property to have sufficient funds to purchase the new site and facilities. Without the funds generated from the sale of the Property the relocation is not economically viable.
Historic District Preservation Process
The City has adopted historic preservation regulations and established a Historic District which includes the Property. To demolish the buildings on the Property, the City must issue a Certificate of Appropriatenes...
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