Historic bank building at risk with Register listing pending
Jack Wolowiec
Partners buy vacant bank
Landmark status pending for Berwyn National Bank
By Madhu Sarin
A vacant building that was the subject of a June 9 hearing on whether it
should be granted National Register status has been sold.
James Stillo on June 8 confirmed he and his partners, Michael Flight and
T.J. Spohnholtz of Acme Realty Investments, have purchased the vacant
Berwyn
National Bank building at the southwest corner of Cermak Road and Oak
Park
Avenue.
The 4 p.m. hearing by the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council
occurred
after The LIFE's press deadline.
Stillo, who declined to disclose the amount of the sale, did say Acme
bought
the building from owner Vera Bilek for less than $1 million.
Additionally,
the partners are in talks to purchase other properties on what is
considered
Berwyn's ``superblock.''
Since the men expressed interest in the bank building and properties to
the
west encompassing the entire block, 6801-21 Cermak, it has prompted
criticism from Lori Thielen, president of the Berwyn Historical Society.
Insurance and travel agencies and a fast-food restaurant are among the
merchants on the block.
Acme's intent is to develop a shopping center, which might include a
national coffee company, grocery chain and sandwich shop, Stillo said.
Because the highly visible corner is plagued with parking problems, the
developers plan to create 51 parking spots.
``The city, (Berwyn Development Corp.) and even private brokers have
tried
to market the (Berwyn National Bank) building, but nothing has ever
progressed,'' Stillo said. ``We want to create revenue and bring in
sales
tax revenues to the city.''
In case residents are worried the shopping center will take on a
contemporary look, Stillo said the buildings will feature ``very
detailed
architectural designs.''
``We want to reposition the stones, bricks and tiles from existing
buildings
and place them onto the new structures.''
Stillo maintains he is interested in preserving Berwyn's treasures
because
he and Spohnholtz are residents of the 7th Ward, which is where the
former
bank is located.
``It was not our intention to eliminate the bank building,'' Stillo
said.
``But we can't see any other feasible way.''
Even if the building is granted landmark status by the council, the
distinction only protects a building if state or federal money is used
for
development. If private funds are used, there is no immunity as
developers
can do what they see fit, including demolition.
Stillo claims the bank building, which has been vacant for over 20
years,
needs ``a lot of work,'' which will cost ``a lot of money for
improvements.''
Stillo also said he and his partners are compiling a proposal which will
ask
the city for tax increment financing district funds to develop the
block. He
claims the exact amount has not been determined, even though the request
may
be made this week.
Whether the City Council will view the partners strategy as favorable
isn't
likely, Stillo said.
``I don't believe we will be granted the proposal due to the current
political situation in the city.''
But Thielen argues money shouldn't be an issue when preservation is in
question.
She said if Acme successfully negotiates the purchase of all the
properties
on the ``superblock,'' it will displace 13 families and seven
businesses.
Further, she accused Stillo of using his father's position in the city
to
his financial advantage.
Stillo, a Realtor and member of the Berwyn Zoning Board of Appeals, is
the
son of former alderman Samuel ``Sonny'' Stillo.
The elder Stillo resigned from the elected position last year to accept
a
paid job as the mayor's administrative coordinator. Samuel Stillo's job
duties would later encompass serving as TIF administrator as well.
When James Stillo tried to follow in his father's steps as 7th Ward
alderman, the City Council denied his requests for appointment.
Political
watchers presume it was Samuel Stillo's ambition of wanting to become
the
city's next mayor that cost his son the aldermanic seat.
Despite the speculations, the younger Stillo insists there is ``no
conflict
of interest.''
``I am a resident of this city and I am sick and tired of looking at
this
blighted building. It's not that we want to demolish the bank building,
but
nobody has given a proposal otherwise.''
The Berwyn Historical Society has repeatedly asked the city to preserve
the
structure, as the Illinois Historical Preservation Agency deemed it
historically significant, and it's listed as one of Illinois' Ten Most
Endangered Historic Places by the Landmarks Preservation Council of
Illinois. Thielen has even suggested using the building as a museum for
the
Berwyn Historical Society.