(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Lake County Forest Preserve District is trying to decide the future of an historic home gifted to the people of Lake County nearly 50 years ago.
The house in Mettawa was once owned by Adlai Stevenson II, a former Illinois governor, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and two-time Democratic presidential nominee. It was donated to Lake County in 1974.
Demolition is on the table, says Rebekah Snyder, Lake County Forest Preserve District’s director of community engagement. She noted just restoring the outside of the 84-year-old house and nearby service building would cost at least $1.1 million.
She said a master plan of possibilities will be drawn up in the next year. Officials will look at how to celebrate Stevenson’s influence.
“Is it a statue? Is it something else? Is it refreshing of the exhibits that exist now? I don’t know.”
A service building on the property contains exhibits.
The house is an official National Historic Landmark, but Snyder said that would not impact whether or not the house must remain.
Forest Preserve District board president Angelo Kyle says the board is “weighing all the scenarios to see how to maintain the legacy of Adlai Stevenson without a heavy financial burden.”
In the meantime, the district will put off applying for a grant from the state for money already set aside for renovation of the Stevenson house.
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