East St. Louis officials say no thanks to SIUE
Jewels Kuenstler
Issue date: 1/22/04 Section: News
East St. Louis Mayor Carl Officer says thanks, but no thanks to the former site of SIUE's East St. Louis Center.
The building, once a historic hotel, housed the SIUE center for more than 40 years. The decision was made to deed the building to the city of East St. Louis by the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees.
The university originally planned to demolish the building and then give the land to the city, but East St. Louis officials requested the building remain intact. The East St. Louis City Council was to vote on the issue in December but has since postponed the decision twice.
Officer, a member of the council, said he doesn't want the city to obtain the building.
"I don't want the city to take the building. If we do, I think it would be nothing but an eyesore. It's a no-win situation for us. The building is full of asbestos," Officer told the Alestle Tuesday.
From 1928 to 1957, the building was known as the Broadview Hotel.
SIUE Assistant Director of Public Affairs Greg Conroy said he remembered hearing the hotel was popular during World War II.
"In the '30s and '40s, a lot of soldiers would stop and stay there before going to the train station in St. Louis the next day," Conroy said.
SIUE's East St. Louis Higher Education Campus now houses the East St. Louis Center and the East St. Louis Community College Center. By spring, the campus will also be home to an Illinois Department of Employment Security office.
"The Illinois Department of Employment Security is a one-stop service center for finding a job. It will include a number of departments under one roof," said Richard Walker, assistant to the vice chancellor for planning and budgeting.
After being purchased for a dollar, the old building was used by SIUE to house several educational and community service programs including Head Start, a program for children.
The former hotel has been boarded up, and all fire escapes and SIUE emblems have been removed. Walker said the East St. Louis City Council has been notified of asbestos conditions in the building.
"We're not trying to unload a white elephant on the city. We want to do what's best for the city of East St. Louis," Walker said Tuesday. "The only reason the building has not been demolished yet is because the council requested it stay intact."
When asked why the council has not made a decision yet, Walker said the council may have budgeting issues that are more important.
"We're willing to cooperate with the city officials and do what's best for their residents," Walker said.
The building, once a historic hotel, housed the SIUE center for more than 40 years. The decision was made to deed the building to the city of East St. Louis by the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees.
The university originally planned to demolish the building and then give the land to the city, but East St. Louis officials requested the building remain intact. The East St. Louis City Council was to vote on the issue in December but has since postponed the decision twice.
Officer, a member of the council, said he doesn't want the city to obtain the building.
"I don't want the city to take the building. If we do, I think it would be nothing but an eyesore. It's a no-win situation for us. The building is full of asbestos," Officer told the Alestle Tuesday.
From 1928 to 1957, the building was known as the Broadview Hotel.
SIUE Assistant Director of Public Affairs Greg Conroy said he remembered hearing the hotel was popular during World War II.
"In the '30s and '40s, a lot of soldiers would stop and stay there before going to the train station in St. Louis the next day," Conroy said.
SIUE's East St. Louis Higher Education Campus now houses the East St. Louis Center and the East St. Louis Community College Center. By spring, the campus will also be home to an Illinois Department of Employment Security office.
"The Illinois Department of Employment Security is a one-stop service center for finding a job. It will include a number of departments under one roof," said Richard Walker, assistant to the vice chancellor for planning and budgeting.
After being purchased for a dollar, the old building was used by SIUE to house several educational and community service programs including Head Start, a program for children.
The former hotel has been boarded up, and all fire escapes and SIUE emblems have been removed. Walker said the East St. Louis City Council has been notified of asbestos conditions in the building.
"We're not trying to unload a white elephant on the city. We want to do what's best for the city of East St. Louis," Walker said Tuesday. "The only reason the building has not been demolished yet is because the council requested it stay intact."
When asked why the council has not made a decision yet, Walker said the council may have budgeting issues that are more important.
"We're willing to cooperate with the city officials and do what's best for their residents," Walker said.
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