Thank you to everyone who has provided their comments about the Wright-designed Cottage project – either in person at the recent Park District public hearing or via letter or conversation. We appreciate the opportunity to better understand your concerns and to provide you with as much information as possible about how the Glencoe Historical Society (GHS), the Park District and the Village intend to address these issues while saving a treasured historic landmark and providing the community with a more beautiful park in which we can all take pride.
First of all, GHS would like to join the Park District and the Village in apologizing for the fact that the circumstances surrounding this project made it impossible to provide more notice before the public meeting. The overall timing of matters has been largely outside the control of GHS, the Park District or the Village. It began when the new owners of the property at 239 Franklin filed a permit late last May to demolish the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Cottage, a Glencoe honorary historic landmark. The Village invoked the 180-day waiting period on the issuance of the permit as required by local ordinances and immediately began working with GHS and others to save this important architectural and community treasure. The initial plan was to move it to the GHS museum campus at 375 Park Avenue. From June through mid- September, the parties did substantial work toward that goal. Unfortunately, that plan proved unworkable and at the beginning of October, the parties were back to square one looking for a suitable location.
With the 180-day waiting period set to expire on November 30, time was of the essence. After considering a number of different options, GHS and the Village approached the Park District about the possibility of placing the Cottage on Park 7N. This proposal made sense geographically, economically and historically. Park 7N is at the foot of Ravine Bluffs, the only Wright-designed subdivision ever built. The Cottage would be placed on the western edge of the park replacing unsightly scrub vegetation and substantially enriching the visual horizon. The park is approximately 44,000 square feet and can easily accommodate the 1100 square foot Cottage (less than 3% of the available space) without compromising land set aside for families and children to enjoy. The park sits only ½ block from the current location of the Cottage making a move both practically and economically more feasible.
From mid-October 2019 until early January 2020, representatives of the Park District and the GHS worked tirelessly to negotiate the terms of an acceptable long-term lease that would permit GHS to move the Cottage to the park. GHS was also working to raise sufficient private funding to support the move, restoration and ongoing operation and maintenance of the Cottage after relocation. When the waiting period on the demolition permit expired on November 30, GHS worked with the owner to get a statement pledging to hold off on any demolition plans until January 30. Throughout the holidays, negotiations continued. They were extensive and thorough. Both the Park District and GHS, as stewards of the Glencoe community, were concerned about a wide variety of neighborhood issues, including, among many others, overall use, safety, parking, traffic and flooding. During the process, it was by no means clear that the parties would be able to settle on acceptable terms. As soon as there was a tentative agreement from both the GHS and Park District Boards, the neighbors and community were notified on January 10. The public hearing was held on January 21 because action needed to be taken before the owners were able to demolish the structure. We all agree that it is unfortunate that circumstances did not permit more communication and input. There was no choice. Further delay would have jeopardized the survival of the Cottage. Your concerns are legitimate, however, and we will work with you to address them.
Many of the issues that have been raised are based on a misunderstanding regarding the future use of the Cottage. The primary goal of GHS is to save the historic structure, not to commercialize its use. We do not have the manpower to make the Cottage into an active destination. Initially, it will be available for research or meeting place only by appointment. At most, the Cottage would have hours similar to those at our current headquarters campus on Park Avenue. It is open to the public only on Wednesdays from 10-3 p.m. and on Sundays from 1-4 p.m. Over the past twenty years since we acquired that space, we have worked continuously to upgrade its appearance and use as a community resource. Our neighbors at that location will affirm the commitment of GHS to maintaining good relationships by promptly addressing any concerns that may arise. GHS will maintain and operate the Cottage in the same fashion.
We all agree that traffic and parking are of paramount concern. Given the limited use, there should not be a substantial increase in either vehicle or foot traffic. GHS will install an appropriate security system with camera coverage that allows for constant monitoring of the Cottage and immediate access to Public Safety in the event of any potential problem. This security feature is one of the many ways that the Cottage relocation will enhance the safety of the park and the neighborhood. The Village is working with GHS and the Park District and will work with you to find solutions to any other potential parking congestion problems through new restrictions and increased enforcement.
The concern about water in the park is also of great importance to all of us. At the public hearing, GHS introduced our civil engineer who is designing a solution to eliminate the problem. This work will ensure a safer and more pleasant setting not only for the Cottage but for all the neighbors and community users of the park. Although our lease agreement with the Park District gives GHS one year to complete the relocation, exterior restoration of the Cottage and associated drainage issues, we anticipate that the work will be completed within a much shorter time frame. Weather conditions are, of course, unpredictable, but our vendors are eager to complete the project as soon as possible and well within the allotted lease requirement.
Finally, we want to again underscore the fact that no public funding will be used for this project. GHS has raised private funds to relocate and restore the Cottage. The Park District required proof of such funding as a condition of the Lease. As a private not-for-profit, GHS will continue to operate and maintain the Cottage using grants and private funding. Any failure on the part of GHS to maintain its obligations under the Lease would result in the termination of the Agreement.
We hope that this information helps to answer some of the questions that have been raised about this project. We encourage you to continue to provide us with your concerns and feedback. To that end, we would like to join the Park District and the Village in inviting you to a meeting to further discuss the project at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 13, 2020 in the Community Room at the Takiff Center. Please email us at info@glencoehistory.org if you have specific questions that you would like us to address at the meeting. We look forward to meeting with you in person and thank you again for your participation and patience.
