|
Geoff Ladd updated the council on progress of the newly formed
Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County. The foundation made
formal requests to the council last week that would allow them to
take over the old Mill restaurant property.
The city was in the midst being given the property by Dennis
Koehler in exchange for relief from fines he owes on the property.
Koehler had been unable to afford the measures that would bring the
property to a safe condition.
The foundation has become incorporated in the last week and
continues to wait to receive a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status. With
the help of local businessman Brian Huffman, they are seeking a loan
to initiate the first phase of making the property safe. They hope
to have that in two weeks, Ladd said.
Koehler was set to be jailed last week for contempt of court in
the matter. He agreed to turn the property over to the foundation if
the city would waive the charges against him.
If the city were to receive the property, it would still be a
costly and lengthy process to make the property safe before it could
be sold. The city would face numerous costs, including an
environmental inspection and probable asbestos abatement before
demolition and numerous legal costs.
The foundation taking over the property would resolve both the
city's and Koehler's problems. It would also preserve a unique Route
66 historic site and create a tourism attraction. According to the
foundation proposal, the former restaurant is "one of the last icons
along this stretch of Route 4-Route 66 through Lincoln."
In the first phase of preservation, the front Mill facade would
offer a picture spot. Later phases would lead to preserving a small
portion of the building that would offer a gift, souvenir and
tourism information center.
The property has been a problem for 15 years. Wanda Lee Rohlfs
led aldermen in asking Ladd for some assurance that the city would
not find itself looking at this property again 10 years from now.
[to top of second column]
 |
 Ladd said that the foundation steering committee has a number of
solid local leaders who can make this happen. In particular, one
member has the know-how to rehab the property. Peter Niehaus
operates an architectural salvage and historic site refurbishment
business. Also serving on the steering committee are Jan Schumacher,
John Sutton, Brian Huffman, Ernie Edwards, Shirley Bartelmay,
Annette Chapman and Ladd.
The proposal has the backing of local leaders, as well as state
and county Route 66 and tourism organizations:
-
Route 66 Association
of Illinois -- John Weiss
-
Illinois Route 66
Heritage Project -- scenic byway
-
Route 66 Heritage
Foundation of Logan County
-
Abraham Lincoln
Tourism Bureau of Logan County
* * *
Chairman Wanda Lee Rohlfs announced that the sidewalk repair and
replacement fund has reached the end of its fiscal year budget. The
committee will begin accepting new requests after April 1, 2007.
Funds are still available such that with prior city approval
owners can do the work themselves for reimbursement. Applications
are available at City Hall.
* * *
City trick-or-treat hours for Halloween in Lincoln are set for 5
to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31.
* * *
Les Plotner delivered the annual city treasurer's report. His
report will be available in tomorrow's LDN.
[Jan
Youngquist]
Past related article
|
