East Dundee Fire Station Open House- Courier News

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Written by Erin Sauder, Sun Times Media.  September 30, 2014

http://couriernews.suntimes.com/2014/09/30/east-dundee-shows-new-fire-station/

East Dundee shows off new fire station

East Dundee residents have an opportunity to see what their tax dollars paid for during an open house celebration for the new fire station along Route 25.

Set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, the event will also include a dedication ceremony for the building.

“The residents were kind enough to approve the referendum and now they get a chance to see the building for the first time and where their tax dollars have gone,” said Fire Chief Steve Schmitendorf.

Saturday’s event will include tours of the station, refreshments, and activities for kids and adults. The dedication ceremony will be held at 11 a.m.

A $5.5 million referendum passed by taxpayers in November of 2012 made possible the new fire station, located near Routes 25 and 72. Fire officials said the area is more centrally located to serve their entire district, which extends as far east as Higgins Road and Route 90. The district serves the villages of East Dundee, South Barrington, Barrington Hills, and unincorporated Kane and Cook counties.

The move also means more room for the East Dundee Police Department which will expand into the fire department’s old building.

Fire officials were able to move into the new building in June.

“We decided to wait and give us some time to get organized to do the dedication,” Schmitendorf said.

He said officials have already noted a great improvement in response times at the new site.

“We’re in a better location to go in lots of different directions,” he said.

And while officials are hoping for good weather Saturday, the event will be held rain or shine.

“We have a big enough station now so we can do a lot inside that we couldn’t do before,” Schmitendorf said.

And because Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, “we’ll do the combination of the fire station dedication along with the open house and roll right into that,” Schmitendorf said.

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East Dundee Building Getting Makeover – Courier News

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Written By Erin Sauder, The Courier News. October 1, 2014

http://couriernews.suntimes.com/2014/10/01/east-dundee-building-getting-makeover-second-story/

East Dundee building getting makeover, second story

Another downtown East Dundee building is set to get a big makeover.

OTTO President Tom Roeser, owner of the site at 220 N. River St., plans to expand and change the design of the building to create office space for about 30 people.

“What [the tenants] want is 11,000 square feet and the building is only 6,000 square feet so we’re going to put a second story on,” Roeser said. “And my intention was to always have the look of the building fit the period of the other buildings in the downtown. And the red brick is way out of place for the downtown area.”

Roeser did not specify which company is taking the space but said demolition on the building will likely happen next week.

Initially, there was talk that the former Rakow office furniture building would be transformed into a two story structure that would be home to two restaurants.

But Roeser said the office space will create more foot-traffic downtown East Dundee.

“An office with 25 or 30 people will help the restaurants at lunch,” he said. “And it doesn’t hurt the parking, which is really a problem. So [this business] winds up being a better fit for the critical mass of the downtown.”

Lamp Construction has been engaged to manage the project, Roeser said. He anticipates it will take about nine months to complete.

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