Metra Depot Remodel on Track in Des Plaines

The downtown Des Plaines area will have a new look before the end of the year, and the Metra train depot is included in the comprehensive plan. Des Plaines City Council approved awarding a bid of almost a half-million dollars to remodel the train depot at a meeting on May 6.

New doors, windows, an expanded café area, a clock in the center, changes to the façade and more are planned for the Metra depot, according to city documents. The work will be completed this construction season, by the fall, in conjunction with the extensive streetscape construction currently underway in the downtown area, said Michael Bartholomew, city manager, in an interview with Patch.

“I think this is an exciting space,” Bartholomew said. “When you go up and down the line, you’ll see newly remodeled spaces, and ours was past time to be done.”

The bid for $483,305 was awarded to Tuscany Construction based in Addison, according to city documents.

Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman said there was a difference of $328,000 between the high and low bid.

“This contract illustrates the importance of competitive bidding,” Brookman said. “If you get a single bid; you have to be very wary of what you’re doing.” 

The current coffee bar area will be expanded into a café, and will include an outdoor seating area, according to city documents. A request for proposal from potential vendors would be made to fill the space, Bartholomew said.

The coffee and snacks vendor currently in the depot, The Brasserie, has occupied the space for several years, and was previously located in a retail space next to the library.

Des Plaines budgeted approximately $2.8 million for streetscape construction work in 2013, which is part of a total $13.2 million budgeted for infrastructure improvements this year.

Click here to see the tentative construction schedule published by the City of Des Plaines.

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