This time, it’s final. Green Garden’s town hall is going to be renovated rather than replaced.
After months of u-turn decisions and debate with a group of residents adamantly opposed to a new-build, township officials have opted to rehabilitate the aging hall on Center Road.
GGT Supervisor Dean Christofilos said during the Dec. 8 meeting of the board of trustees that a $558,312 grant had been approved, but the township had been waiting for Will County’s verification of “two important items” – reimbursement of invoices.
“I am happy to report just before 5 p.m. yesterday, we received an email confirming reimbursement of previously incurred invoices,” he said.
“We may now submit the remaining unreimbursed invoices for review, with all necessary backup documentation to demonstrate eligibility and direct connection to the Town Hall Renovation Project.”
The Township had requested reimbursement of $132,708.29 in previously incurred project invoices.
“It has also been confirmed,” he added, “that we can submit invoices and backup documentation as payment requests, maintaining timely submission of invoices, and supporting documentation to facilitate prompt reimbursement, which typically takes 10-15 business days from time of submission to Will County.”
Both terms were “important to our ability to move forward with the project. As stated, we do not have it in our budget to fund the entire project,” Christofilos explained.
The township board voted last summer to pursue a new hall on a six-acre parcel, 1.5 miles south of Monee-Manhattan Road.
But in October, officials reversed that decision because of changes in grant funding deadlines imposed by Will County. The earlier deadlines, they said, would make it impossible to complete the project on time.
GGT officials have pointed out, although the county restored the later deadline that appeared helpful, it did not recover the months lost during the timeline changes. Further discussions with the post-frame builder and other professionals involved in the project raised significant concerns about the ability to meet even the revised deadline.
Christofilos said, if the project were not completed on time, the township would not receive any grant money and would have to bear the entire cost of the project.
“The financial consequences of missing the deadline,” he said, “would be too great for the township to responsibly continue. The financial risk associated with missing the deadline ultimately drove our decision.
“With the recent positive changes by the county, renovating the current town hall now has become a more practical and financially responsible option. The county has agreed to reduce the required scope of work, allow the township to complete the renovation without additional township funds beyond the grant, and maintain the October 30, 2026 deadline. With these adjustments, the renovation project is achievable within the timeline and significantly less complex than the originally approved project.
The scope of the project is subject to change, but right now includes creating ADA compliant restrooms, raising the floor in the kitchen and back corridor to match the community room floor elevation to accommodate ADA compliance, and to provide locked storage of files, relocating the back door to the west side of the building for wheelchair access, removal of the existing ceiling tiles to provide additional height and install drywall ceiling, upgrading HVAC and add air conditioning, a new septic system, ADA parking spaces, and walkway to the front door, ADA access into the town hall, refinishing or replacing the wood floor, addition of a flagpole, additional interior electrical outlets in the front area and existing kitchen/storage area, and possible safety steel posts along north side of building.
Christofilos said he is hopeful the decision to renovate rather than build will finally put the issue to rest.
“Yes, I am. We do have other important issues to deal with, which we already are. Our board and the other elected officials – clerk, assessor, road commissioner – along with some volunteer residents, are working hard to continue moving the township forward.
“For example, our Plan Commission Committee led by Mark Sarkisian has done a great job on presenting to all the residents a current Land Use Plan and Map the board will be voting on at our December meeting. The entire committee has worked really hard and has done an outstanding job on this needed project.”
As supervisor, Christofilos would have preferred to build a new facility. Nevertheless, he is happy with the current decision.
“We estimated 60 percent of the residents preferred building a new town hall on the land we own 1.5 miles south of the current town hall, and 30 percent wanted the renovation. However, because the new town hall is no longer an option, I am hopeful most residents will be happy – especially because the original scope of work for the renovation was going to cost the township at least $200,000 out of the Town Fund, plus the grant money. Now that the county has agreed to reduce the required scope of work, allowing the township to complete the renovation without additional township funds beyond the grant, does make it more attractive to many residents.
“My first choice was to build the new town hall because that will be our future – 40+ acres for a community center, park area for kids, walking trail, and, who knows, maybe even a pickle ball court!
“But with the current circumstances, renovation of the current town hall has become a good choice for the township. The new town hall project, with all the effort put in, is not forever lost, only set aside for a better time when our township is ready. It’s all good. The board’s highest goal is to act in the best interest of the township residents. If we can do that, I am personally very satisfied.”
Actual construction is expected to begin sometime in the spring.