It’s looking unlikely that North Judson will be able to get grant funding to help demolish a downtown building believed to be in danger of collapse. Part of the structure at 205 and 207 Lane Street already collapsed in on itself on May 11, forcing North Judson to close off a portion of its downtown area.
Town officials asked the Kankakee-Iroquios Regional Planning Commission if any resources were available to help cover demolition costs. The problem, according to Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins, is that a blight elimination grant would take too long, and the state’s urgent need funds are designed mainly for weather-related emergencies, meaning the emergency demolition wouldn’t qualify.
The town didn’t have much more luck with state lawmakers. “We contacted both our legislators and just got back a kind of generic ‘We’ll look into it,'” said town council member Jane Ellen Felchuk. “But I had it from another source that the state doesn’t have any money they’re passing out.”
A demolition quote previously received by the town was for over $250,000. The town council voted earlier this month to reject it, in part, because of the high price. Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann told the town council Monday that since then, three companies have expressed interest in doing the work. One of those planned to visit the site Tuesday.
All demolition quotes are due by Friday, July 7 at 3:30 p.m.
