The agreement would give the companies $13 million in cash and land, or more, although they first would have to provide the city with a market study and secure enough financing to build. (Courier 9/28/06)

If you’re still reeling from “sticker Schock,” I don’t blame you.  What I’m worried about mostly is that they’re likely to do what they did with the Crocker: tear it down without a guarantee that anything will be built in its place.  The major growth cycle in the real estate market is probably over, and the question is will the market flatten out or crash and what impact will that have on all these plans for development in the downtown and on the far west side.  With the risks as significant as they now are, I would be appalled if they take a wrecking ball to the GBL, and deliver what is essentially a coup de grâce to the Civic Center, an AIA award-winner and Elgin’s major achievement of the post-war era.

The Civic Center is the best land we have in the downtown, and the city council wants developers to build on the best land we have rather than the worst, violating the cardinal rule of urban renewal and redevelopment.  When there are genuinely blighted areas (State Street corridor) and empty brownfields (north of the GBL) begging to be made beautiful, why is the priority on destroying an architectural landmark?

$13M to the developers, ostensibly to generate economic activity in the downtown, to “revive” it.  But have they considered investing that same amount of money, $13M in rehabbing and converting the building into a modern art museum?  Wouldn’t that draw traffic?  Wouldn’t that generate economic activity?  Wouldn’t that complement the ESO?  Wouldn’t that enhance Elgin’s prestige?  The current edition of Architectural Record describes how various cities have offered to build Guggenheim museums at their own expense.  Presumably, art is a generator of economic activity.  Didn’t it put Bilbao on the map?  I’m not saying build the Guggenheim Elgin–well not in the old GBL at least! But museum basements are overflowing with works of art begging to be borrowed and displayed.

That’s just one idea and not necessarily the best one, but all ideas must be considered.  There are few fine examples of International style civic campuses in the world. We’re fortunate enough to have one and yet we act like philistines bent on destruction.  Elgin’s heritage commission, the DNA, and all the other agencies that are charged with protecting and preserving the city’s physical and cultural assets have shirked their responsibility.  The Civic Center is a landmark and it is long overdue for landmark designation and protection.

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