Police and Fire Building to Remain Untouched, For Now

Eventually, the Village of Greendale will make a move to either sell or rehabilitate the former police and fire building.

But that time is not now.

On March 19, the Village Board decided to ignore the recommendation from the Historic Downtown ad hoc committee suggesting the Village immediately abate hazardous materials in the building, develop a marketing strategy to try to sell the building during the Village’s 75th anniversary year and keep the building on the market for two years.

Asbestos abatement would cost approximately $20,000. The building, however, qualifies for the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program, which offers a 20 percent federal tax credit for qualified rehabilitation expenses.

Village President John Hermes said he could not support either part of the ad hoc committee’s suggestion. He said the two-year window is too long, especially if a potential buyer came along right away, and added it would not be practical for the Village to pay for abatement now that the tax credits are available.

Village Trustee Greg Turay agreed.

“We would never want to lock ourselves into a two-year period … and I hesitate letting $20,000 going out of the taxpayers hands for something a developer could do,” Turay said.

Trustees decided not to take any action on the ad hoc committee’s recommendation, but the building, which has been vacant since 1995, came up again at a Village Board candidate forum two days later.

Trustee Ronald Barbian said maintaining the empty building is an annual expense to the Village.

“I’d like to see it put up for sale and see if someone would like to buy it, though it would be a very, very costly,” he said.

Trustee Carl Genz said if marketed properly, the building possesses many possibilities, including more retail space or an artist studio with living space. He said qualifying for the federal tax credits, thanks to the Village’s historic landmark designation, could now make the property more attractive to a developer but added it’s important to never forget the historical importance and value of the building.

Challenger Jason Cyborowski suggested the Village keep it and rent it out but maintain its historical significance.