Library Board Urged to Purchase Borders Building

The board has received an informal $8 million proposal to buy the vacant former at South Waukegan and Lake-Cook roads instead of spending $11.7 million to renovate the existing library site.

The surprise recommendation was proposed at last week’s monthly board meeting when Rick Lynn and Rob Rowe put the idea forward during the public comments portion.

Lynn is the co-chairman of the board's citizen input group that did the research last fall in preparation of the library's referendum. He is also the owner of RML Capital LLC, a local real estate advisory company. Rowe is the president of Sierra Realty Advisors, a Chicago firm. 

Both urged trustees to reconsider the proposed library referendum to finance renovations. Instead, the pair wants the board to contemplate either an outright purchase of the 10-year-old building or a long-term lease at $27 a square foot for the 25,000 square feet of floor space. The current library offers 32,500 square feet of space.

recently filed for Chapter 11 reorganization and closed 227 stores throughout the nation, including shops in Deerfield and Highland Park.

Library trustees listened intently to the two presentations. They asked only a couple of brief questions, but expressed no opinions on the subject.

“This is a sturdy, state-of-the-art brick building that is ready for occupancy now and ample parking is available for patrons entering from major street arterials," Lynn said. "This plan has all the qualities that the Deerfield library might desire, but would find very difficult to achieve at the present limited site."

Lynn added that under this scenario, the Deerfield Public Library could have two locations, with the Borders building serving as the main library and the current 40-year-old site being used as a branch library.

“Such an arrangement could provide the community with expanded and improved services, and I believe would also enhance the village’s capital investments portfolio,” he said.

Rowe amplified on the attributes of the Borders building, which he is representing as a real estate broker.

“The building has 25,000 square feet of floor space on two levels, with 126 parking spaces in the immediate area, and up to a potential of 300 parking spaces on the premises,” Rowe said.

He noted that the building, if purchased by the library board, was available for immediate move-in or a long-term lease arrangement was another option.

But Rowe made it clear he was not interested in providing a temporary location for library materials while the current facility is being renovated.

"This just won’t work for us,” he said.

Some think the Borders purchase proposal may have come too late--voters approved an $11.7 million referendum to renovate the library in November. Lynn and Rowe may not be fully aware of contractual commitments the library board has made in creating the construction management team to oversee the project.

At the May 18 meeting that Lynn and Rowe appeared, library trustees later announced they have selected A T Group of Park Ridge to work with the board in managing the renovations.

Last year, the board contracted with the architectural firm PSA-Dewberry to develop building needs assessment ideas and asked the company to develop suggested floor layouts as part of a redesign.

The board has already made preliminary plans to employ a construction manager “at risk” who will assume major financial responsibilities and other duties. That key appointment is expected soon.

The next library board meeting is scheduled for June 15.