By Clint Wolf - May 7th 2024

 

SOUTH BELOIT

The engineering and architect firm of McMahon Associates will draft a plan for the demolition of the former Garden Hotel, which then will be used to help choose a company to tear down the building.

The South Beloit City Council approved the service agreement with McMahon Associates during Monday’s council meeting. Once McMahon Associates completes plans and specifications for demolition, the city can advertise for bids for demolition job. The planning would include asbestos mitigation.

“We hope to put this out for bids in the next 60 days,” said South Beloit City Administrator Sonya Hoppes.

New Chapter Group, the owners of the former Garden Hotel, was ordered to demolish the hotel in a March 28 ruling in Winnebago County, Illinois Court. The ruling, issued by Judge Ronald Barch, found the hotel property was “in a state of complete disrepair and ruin.”

Barch ordered the New Chapter Group to execute the demolition order within 30 days. If there was no progress on demolition, the city of South Beloit had the right to begin demolition planning.

Barch also ruled New Chapter Group was to pay $825,500 for each of the 10 city ordinance violations, with a total fine amount being $8,825,500. The court also awarded additional fines of $5,000 a day to go to the city from Nov. 15, 2023 until the building is demolished.

Hoppes said New Chapter Group has indicated it wishes to appeal the ruling, but she said the city will proceed with plans for demolition.

The city also filed for foreclosure on the property due to the sewer fees and other money owed to the city by the property owners. New Chapter Group agreed to the foreclosure oder in February. The foreclosure order allows a three-month redemption period, which allows the owners to avoid foreclosure if they pay the amount owed to the city. The period expires on June 13.

The Garden Hotel, at the corner of Highway 251 and Gardner Street, has been sitting vacant since March of 2019. The building has become an eyesore in the community as it has been the site of multiple break-ins and windows and doors have been boarded up by city staff.

In September of 2019, the Winnebago County, Illinois, Health Department condemned the property saying the property was unsafe.

City officials have estimated it may cost over $2 million to demolish the building. The city would seek reimbursement for demolition costs from the property owner. The city plans to sell the property at auction once the demolition is complete.

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