UPTOWN — The historic Clarendon Park Field House and Community Center, which suffers from water problems and other building code violations, is getting some repairs through the Chicago Park District.
But the handful of repairs won't address all of the deteriorating conditions in the Uptown building, which was recently named one of the most threatened buildings in Chicago by a local preservation group.
"We're trying to stop the bleeding. This is not a complete rehab. This is a limited rehab," said Stephen Grant, an architect with the park district. "We were able to get this much done. I could spend twice as much here."
With a budget of $413,000, the park district is able to do "very limited" roof work to address water damage, rebuild a dangerous parapet that's fenced off and some other masonry work, Grant told members of the Clarendon Park Advisory Council at the field house, 4501 N. Clarendon Ave., on Wednesday evening. Some repairs have already begun.
"Water that gets in at the north side in the fitness center— we're not going to be able to address that problem. The fascia is rusting through. We're not going to be able to address that. The lower roofs are in really bad condition. We're not going to be able to address that, either," Grant said.
The plans presented to the group Wednesday evening also didn't address flooding in the room that houses the Garfield Clarendon Model Railroad, one of the nation's largest model railroad layouts.
"We have severe water damage from several big storms that took place last year and we've got [buckets] to collect that water as much as we can. It's that extreme," said Scott Baumgartner, a member of the railroad club.
In response, Grant said he had to "prioritize" the issues that presented safety concerns.
"I'm dealing with an extreme condition on the second floor where a ceiling is falling down and a masonry wall is going to fall over were people walk," he said. "I love the train room. I'm not trying to say that's not important."
Grant blamed Gov. Bruce Rauner's budget cuts, saying "the governor's office has put a hole in a lot of our funding."
"This has caused repercussions throughout the entire system. All of my projects are affected, including this one," Grant said.
Still, the limited repairs should improve the building, which was built in 1916 and became a community center in the 1930s. By repairing the mid-section of the roof, leaks from the roof should stop, Grant said.
The budget won't allow for other repairs, such as putting in a new gym floor or doing concrete work on the northwest plaza.
But the community group might get the help it needs from JDL Development.
In early April, JDL's plans to bring a luxury high-rise to Uptown resurfaced. According to Ald. James Cappleman's (46th) office, the project would generate tax revenue needed to rehab the Clarendon Park Field House.
The development company will present its new plans to the alderman's office and community groups in the coming months.
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