Demolition requests submitted for two Route 120 properties

McHENRY A long vacant property identified by the city as it developed its newest incentive program is set to be demolished.

The property owner, Terry Wilborn, submitted demolition requests for the former office building at 4719 W. Elm St. and a vacant house at 4909 W. Elm St., a lot that is now zoned commercial.

The Landmark Commission will review the requests at its meeting Tuesday. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the classroom at the McHenry Municipal Center, 333 Green St.

All demolition requests must go before the Landmark Commission, which will review the buildings for historical significance, if any. If the Landmark Commission approves the demolition, the request does not need to go before the City Council.

Both properties are in poor condition, Deputy City Administrator Doug Martin said. The office building sustained water damage, and the house is "dilapidated."

The demolitions are not in preparation for any particular project that Martin is aware of, he said. Wilborn has not filed a building permit for a subsequent project with the city.

If the demolition was part of a larger project that centered around the opening of a new business or residential building or the expansion of an existing business, it might have qualified for the city's newest incentive program.

The initiative was developed with the properties located along Route 120 between Meadow Lane and Ringwood Road in mind. The former office building was one of the properties pointed to when the idea was initially proposed a year and a half ago.

No applications have been submitted to the city since the council approved the program in June 2012.

Applications are evaluated on the amount of sales or property tax that would be generated, financial feasibility and if safety improvements are included and require council approval.

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Demolition requests submitted for two Route 120 properties