Post by southsidesignmaker on Oct 6, 2010 8:25:38 GMT -5
Council approves purchase of Children’s Museum land
By Jenette Sturges jsturges@stmedianetwork.com Oct 5, 2010 09:26PM
napervillesun.suntimes.com/1873528-417/museum-million-council-deal-purchase.html
The deal securing the DuPage Children’s Museum, for the near future at least, is sealed.
The Naperville City Council voted 8 to 1 on Tuesday night to approve the purchase of the land and building of the DuPage Children’s Museum for $3 million.
The agreement came after nearly two years of negotiations between the children’s museum, Chase bank and the city.
“What we’re doing by this transaction tonight is lessening the amount of support that we’ve been providing for unencumbered purposes,” said Councilman James Boyajian. “We’re providing a mechanism for the museum to operate and for us to buy a piece of property.”
In exchange for the $3 million, the city will receive the building and three acres of land on which the museum sits, part of which is to be converted to 57 commuter parking spaces for the nearby Metra station.
The museum, in return, will lease the building space back from the city rent-free for the first five years. In year six, the museum will rent at a cost of approximately $62,000, with increases tied to the consumer price index thereafter.
The deal was struck after Chase agreed to write off more than $3 million in debt the museum still owed. State representatives have pooled and allocated almost $2 million. The city will use $1 million from its Burlington Fund to pay for the land, with the remaining $2 million paid for with leftover money in the city’s capital improvement program.
DuPage County is contributing $250,000 to the purchase deal, and individual private donors have pledged an additional $700,000.
Also included in the deal is a provision weaning the museum off of assistance from the city’s Special Events and Cultural Amenities fund. The museum has historically been one of the biggest users of SECA money, this year taking in $250,000, or 7 percent of the museum’s operating budget from the fund.
Under the purchase agreement, the museum will no longer be able to use SECA funds to support its operations. In addition, two City Council members will sit on the museum board, and the council will have the right to review the museum’s annual budget.
Museum supporters came out in droves to urge council members to approve the agreement that would keep the museum open despite its troubled financial past.
“I really feel like this is such a great opportunity for the city, for the museum and for those of us parents who really, really need someplace to go when it’s raining outside,” said Kathryn Pegorsch, a resident and parent who frequents the museum.
Councilman Grant Wehrli was the lone dissenter.
I’ve heard a lot of discussion that this is for the children, and I couldn’t agree more,” said Wehrli, showing off projects his children have made at the museum over the years. “However, we can’t turn this into an emotional decision. I asked how are you going to move forward. What’s your business plan? I didn’t see a business plan.”
He also argued that, while the city is paying only $3 million, the actual cost of the museum, when other government bodies and private donors are included, is much higher.
“Yeah, it’s a great deal. It’s a great deal for Chase, because they are cutting their losses, but they are cutting their losses above where the market is.”
But other council members argued that the city benefits from the 330,000 people who visit the museum each year and generate local sales tax revenue, and will benefit in the future from the purchase of the property.
“Certainly, the museum needs us most right now,” said Councilman Paul Hinterlong. “But in a way, we need the museum as well.”
Mayor A. George Pradel phoned in his vote for approval of the purchase agreement.