Abandonment is not an Acceptable End for the
Lombard Gym
by Gary
Tomlin
The
issue of the nearly 100-year-old Lombard Gym is not complex. A preservation solution may be simple
if only the School Board and administration had a will to seek it. They have
not done so. This is disturbing because whether they admit it or not, they have
a stewardship responsibility.
We neither built or bought the
Lombard Gym. We inherited it. We are not it's owners. We are its stewards. It
stands as the only remaining structure that there was once a Lombard College.
And while it's historical significance in 2008 may be debatable, in a hundred
years it will be indisputable.
We are refusing to preserve the
past, for the future, so the middle school wrestling program can have new, more
convenient locker rooms now. We are selling this heritage way too cheap. In
Europe, demolition or abandonment would not even be considered.
The administration has made their
case. It is tear down or abandon the building and build new locker rooms. This
is a decision that goes far beyond this board, administrators or even this
generation. Before going forward, the board would be diligent to seek a second
opinion that critically analyzed
the administration's numbers and conclusions and looked for a viable
alternative to abandonment.
A task force, independent from the
staff administrators, reporting directly to the board, could do that. The
school board should not make this far-reaching decision by itself. The
administrators should welcome a task force. If they have done their job right
and there is nothing to hide, their conclusion will stand up. As it is, no one
seems to be willing to discuss a task force, a second opinion or seek
alternatives.
A number of people are coming
forward with desire to help preserve the building. I don't see it as that big
of a job, but I am having a real hard time seeing the $1.5 million restoration
cost that the school administration claims. While they seem confident to wave
that number around as a reason to abandon the building, I'm puzzled why they
don't put that number's support up for public scrutiny. Certainly transparency
on this would lead to credibility. Until then, whenever someone says it will
cost too much to return the locker rooms to service, the short answer is,
ÒProve it!Ó
Those who say the building is
falling down and it's been condemned are not encumbering themselves with the
facts.
The building is structurally
sound It is not falling down and
it is not going to fall down any time soon. When I asked the school district's
architect of it's condition he said, ÒThe building is structurally sound.Ó
The Fire and Health Departments did
not condemn the building. They don't have that authority. There are several
deferred maintenance items, such as the fire alarm and exit lights are not
working. Both entities have provided a list of things to be fixed before the
building can be occupied, but that is a long way from condemnation, and I
suspect not near $1.5 million.
The School Board and administration
could be cast in a more favorable light had they sincerely invited public
participation in finding a preservation solution before they committed
resources to abandon it.
Unless I missed something, from
August 2005 until the present, the Lombard Gym has not appeared on any School
Board Meeting Agenda as a discussion item. In the past 41 regular school board
meetings, the minutes reflect that it's demolition was mentioned as a progress
report in the Building and Grounds Committee Report three times about year ago,
and the last three meetings since their ambition has come before the public.
We are teaching by example that
this History is not important, and we have no responsibility for its
preservation. I doubt the students whom we require to study History are missing
the hypocrisy in this situation.
If you have 30 to 60 minutes to
work toward saving the Lombard Gym, call 309-221-9953 We will welcome your help.
City of Galesburg Fire Department
March 12, 2007, by Captain William
Thomas
1.
The south fire escape is in need of repair.
2.
None of the emergency lights are in working order.
3.
None of the exit signs are in working order
4.
Exposed electrical wires were found. All shall be
repaired or removed.
5.
Existing plywood in front exit at the stairs does not
meet the flame/smoke spread rating.
6.
Alarm system is dated and has not been tested since
2001.
7.
The building shall be fire sprinkled in accordance
with [applicable codes]
8.
The balcony, stairs and fire exit guard railing should
be checked for compliance with the Life Safety Code.
Knox County Health Department
March 13, 2007, by Wil Hayes.
1.
The sewer line leaving the building has deteriorated
and collapsed.
2.
The building heating system is not functional
3.
The building is not currently connected to the public
water supply.
4.
The majority of the lighting is not functional.
5.
All of the doors have gaps around them creating the
potential for infestation of insects and rodents.
6.
Bird droppings were found around the main entry of the
building. This Department is also aware of previous problems with bird
infiltrations in the building and large quantities of droppings from the birds.
From neither source but a relevant
expense:
The building will require American
Disability Act compliance.
2/21/08
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