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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East Dundee’s New Fire Station Response Time- Post-Tribune

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Written by Erin Sauder, The Sun-Times Media. June 13, 2014

http://posttrib.suntimes.com/search/28057210-418/east-dundees-new-fire-station-location-improves-response-time.html

East Dundee’s new fire station location improves response time

EAST DUNDEE — A year after construction began on East Dundee’s new fire station, officials moved this past week into their new digs along Route 25.

“It’s been great,” said Fire Chief Steve Schmitendorf. “And the biggest thing we’ve noticed — which is what we thought would happen — is that our response time is much better out of this building. Especially anything in the eastern end of our district. Obviously, going back by the old station will take a little longer, but it is downhill and we don’t navigate those narrow streets anymore.”

A $5.5 million referendum approved by taxpayers in November 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 Interstate 90. The district serves the villages of East Dundee, South Barrington and 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 on Third Street.

Fire officials were able to move into the new building Monday.

Schmitendorf said that for the most part, the project stayed on its projected timeline.

“We were maybe two weeks behind what we were hoping for, and that was just because of that tough winter,” he said. “Obviously, we still have some odds and ends to work on; but we can function out here now.”

The land the new fire station is built on is owned by the village. Both fire and village officials agreed to swap the land for the current fire department building. To make the exchange more equitable, since the village was receiving three acres of land with a complete building, East Dundee officials said they would donate $100,000 per year to the East Dundee Fire Protection District — a separate taxing body — for the 20-year life of the loan to build the station to offset payment of the bonds.

A community open house is planned for the fall, to coincide with Fire Prevention Week.

“We’re waiting because we want to do things in the building to spruce it up,” Schmitendorf said.

Village President Lael Miller visited the facility Friday.

“It’s incredible,” he said. “It’s a beautiful building, and I’m sure those guys will be happy in it for the next 50 to 75 years. It’s a huge asset to all the residents of East Dundee and our entire fire service district.”

As for the construction of the village hall and police station, Miller said those projects are going through the final design phase.

“We’re anticipating sometime at the end of summer or early fall we’ll start construction on the police station portion,” he said. “Last I heard, the tentative completion schedule on that is May of next year.”

Miller said work will also begin on the village hall “somewhere in parallel with that.”

lamp incorporated current projects
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East Dundee Fire Protection District breaks ground on long-awaited new fire station site

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EAST DUNDEE — Mark Guth was 13 years old when the fire station was built on Third Street in downtown East Dundee six decades ago. At the time, his father was on the fire department staff. Guth, 75, is retired from the fire department and is now president of the East Dundee Fire Protection District Board of Trustees.

On Tuesday, the East Dundee resident joined other trustees, village and fire staff, and community members to break ground on the fire district’s new station. “I’m kind of excited,” he said. “It’s nice to watch another one go up.”

“Today’s the day, finally,” said Fire Chief Steve Schmitendorf. “It’s very exciting. It’s something that’s been a dream for a long time.” A $5.5 million referendum passed by taxpayers in November made possible the new fire station, which will be located near Routes 25 and 72. Fire officials said that area is more centrally located to serve their entire district, which extends as far east as Higgins Road and Interstate 90.

The land the new fire station will be built on is owned by the village. Fire and village officials agreed to swap the land for the current fire department building on Third Street. To make the exchange more equitable, since the village was receiving three acres of land with a complete building, East Dundee officials said they would donate $100,000 per year to the East Dundee Fire Protection District — a separate taxing body — for the 20-year life of the loan to build the station to offset payment of the bonds.

The move also will mean more room for the East Dundee Police Department, which will expand into the fire department’s old building. Construction is anticipated to take about 10 months. Village President Lael Miller said it’s an exciting time for East Dundee. “And this is such a perfect location for the fire station,” he said. “This is a great win for the entire village.”

Guth said he hopes the building lasts as long as the Third Street location did. “Getting out of the downtown wasn’t bad 50 years ago,” he said. “But today with how big the equipment is, it’s a lot more difficult to get out of those curvy streets. And the response time will be the same. This is going to help (the fire district employees) a lot. It’s going to help everybody.”
The fire district serves the villages of East Dundee, South Barrington and Barrington Hills, and unincorporated Kane and Cook counties.

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