La Grange Mayor John Black is owning his tie-breaking vote to go ahead with renovations of 309 West Main St. to transform it to office and events space.

Former councilman Jason Taylor took to Facebook this past week to criticize the La Grange City Council’s April 8 decision, calling for the council to reconsider its vote at its next meeting. His wife, Laura Taylor, was one of three council members who voted against proceeding with the renovations.

The latest plans for the house-turned-welcome-center include office space for La Grange Tourism, a small conference room, storage, kitchenette, and a 586 square-foot events space, with a renovation price tag approaching $600,000. The city would direct $250,000 of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to the project, and La Grange Tourism would front $100,000. The balance would come from city coffers.

Black concedes the cost was higher than anyone wished, and noted the lowest bid for new restrooms at the city’s skate park came in at $330,000. Inflation is just sky high, he says.

“I understand people’s questioning of our expense,” he said. “We considered the same things as folks bringing it up.”

Black says it isn’t only inflation driving the price tag, but commercial regulations that have to be met for the property to serve the public, such as structural changes to support more foot traffic.

In a post, Taylor said the ARPA funds promised to the project “could have been used to help a lot of people in need.”

Black says ARPA funds have already been used to benefit the community in a variety of ways, such as $50,000 for a new kitchen at HighPoint Charitable Services. The city of La Grange has received $2.3 million in ARPA funds, and has spent approximately $1.2 million, he said. Funds have also been directed to the La Grange Skate Park and a book vending machine for students.

Black sees the new welcome center as an extension of Springs Park’s amenities and one more thing that adds value to living in La Grange.

“I grew up in this town, I love this town, and I want people to enjoy it as much as I did,” he said.

Council member Debbie Pollard characterizes the renovation costs as “ludicrous,” but says with the amount of money already spent on things like engineering and asbestos abatement, moving forward is still the best option.

“We’ve come so far, we’d be fools to go back,” she said.

Pollard says she hates the friction in the city over the project.

“I’ve really been stressed out over this,” she said.

She says the project has been under consideration since its purchase in 2021, when the city bought it as a foreclosure for approximately $35,000. She says the plan had always been to renovate it.

“Yes, the house is in bad shape,” she said. “It’s old.”

She questions why complaints are being made now, after the vote was taken.

“If they’re concerned, they need to come to the meeting,” she said, adding, “It’s not like we’re hiding anything.”

Pollard feels her vote was the right call, and that with $100,000 being provided by La Grange Tourism and $250,000 covered by federal funds, the city is making a reasonable investment of local taxpayer money — and her own taxes.

“I still feel with all my heart we’ll be proud of the old house,” she said.

Pull quote “I understand people’s questioning of our expense. We considered the same things as folks bringing it up.” — John Black La Grange mayor {related_content_uuid}7f4582d4-7b9a-49b3-93ab-b148af3cc42f{/related_content_uuid}