Firehouse Youth Center's Remaining Contents Listed For Sale

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The contents of Firehouse Youth Center and other excess city property go on sale next week on a first-come, first-served basis, as Highland Park prepares to demolish the structure unless it receives a qualified offer to relocate the structure before a Friday afternoon deadline.

Members of the public and organizations will have three days to buy items from the Firehouse, including vintage arcade games, pool tables, board games, televisions, ping-pong tables, signs, appliances, furniture, kitchenware and various interior fixtures. The sale runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 10 at 1850 Green Bay Road.

Built around 1920, the former firehouse provided services for local young people for nearly four decades after being moved to its current location. Youth services at the site were discontinued last year with city officials citing declining enrollment, increasing maintenance costs and the city's pending sale of the site to a developer planning a 171-unit rental development on 2.6 acres beside Sunset Park.

Highland Park contracted with Wilmette-based Sheridan Estate Sales II to manage and market the sale, cataloging the contents of the Firehouse and coordinating their removal, according to the city. Owner Dan Ceretto said all items would be sold whenever their asking price was met. As the sale draws to a close, prices will become more negotiable for unsold items, he said. City staff may deliver additional excess property to the Firehouse site for sale next week, and any unsold items will be returned to the city. A partial inventory of available items was posted online, and more are expected to be added, Ceretto said.

The building will be demolished unless the city receives a proposal from a qualified entity to purchase and relocate the building, which would have to take place before May 1, according to a request for proposals from the city.

"Although the main focus of this RFP is the relocation of the structures," the request said, "the city’s overarching goal is to preserve the structures in an architecturally and historically sensitive manner."

As of the March 1 deadline for responses, city officials said no relocation proposals had been received in its second request for proposals.

"The city did receive interest from design professionals and construction/rehabilitation firms that want to be part of the team, but acknowledged they lack the financing, funding, and property ownership to lead the project," according to Hayley Garard, assistant to the city manager. "They wanted to be notified if a project sponsor emerged from the process." City staff plan to re-evaluate options for finding a private partner to assist with relocation.

"The city is actively evaluating material salvage as an alternative, in order to preserve building elements of the structures, for rehabs and renovations in other homes," she told Patch Friday. "The city has received interest from historic preservation-minded salvage companies, if no relocation project sponsor can be located."

The Karger Center property was listed in 2017 after fundraising efforts for a community family center on the downtown site fell short, Pioneer Press reported. The structure was moved down Green Bay Road in 1976 after the owners of Sunset Food purchased the land where it formerly sat and donated the building to the city. It opened in 1978 and became a popular hangout for students in grades 6 to 8 for more than 30 years. The City Council is anticipated to consider updated plans for the Albion at Highland Park residential development in June.

Related:

• Albion Development Plans Gets Preliminary City Council Nod
• Plan Commission Recommends Albion Development Despite Complaints
• Luxury Rental Development Plans For Karger Center Revealed
• Highland Park Gets Bid To Build 171 Units At Karger Center
• Karger Center Listed For Sale At $3.5 Million