LEFT: SciTech Hands On Museum in Aurora shows the workings of a harmonograph. Blythe Wimber, 6, of Batavia works with magnets Jan. 28 during the Batavia Public Library’s second annual Science & Art Fair.
Photos by Jeff Krage - For Shaw Media
By MARK FOSTER editorial@kcchronicle.com BATAVIA – The building at 111 N. River St. in Batavia has been added to the list of structures expected to be demolished next month when the city of Batavia takes control of the Larson-Becker property. Commonly known as the red pump house, the building dates from the 1890s and is on the west side of River Street, along the east bank of the Fox River, right next to the Peace Bridge pedestrian span. The front of the building bears a plaque dated 1945 for the Larson-Becker Company. The city will be able to add about 12 parking spaces to the 111-space temporary lot it already is planning to create along the west side of River between State and Franklin streets. Batavia city aldermen agreed during a committee meeting Jan. 31 that the pump house building is to be torn down.
Mark Foster - For Shaw Media
Expected to be demolished next month is the red pump house next to the Peace Bridge across the Fox River. It is one of the buildings on the Larson-Becker property being acquired by the city of Batavia. The city of Batavia is buying land owned by the firm on both sides of North River Street for $1.25 million. The temporary parking lot will be designed to accommodate downtown visitors during construction of the nearby
One Washington Place mixed-use development. The city has gone out for bids on the demolition project, which, along with creation of the parking lot, is estimated to cost $300,000. Also to be razed is the vacant, deteriorating house at 124 N. River St. on the east side of the street. By clearing the property along the river, the city will be able to create a riverfront linear park, roughly 35 feet wide, that will provide a better connection for the existing bicycle trail, Mayor Jeff Schielke said. The park will be named for the Larson-Becker firm, Schielke said. “The Larson-Becker Park will be one of the nicest in Batavia,” Schielke said. “It’s a dynamite site.” The old tin shop building in the 100 block of North River Street on the east side of the street, as well as a three-bay garage next door, will not be immediately torn down. The garage will be used by the Bata-
via Public Works Department to store equipment used in the downtown area. The tin shop building, a large two-story wooden structure, is in very good structural condition, Batavia Building Commissioner Jeff Albertson said. City officials are hoping someone will want to buy the building and move it to another location. Schielke dismissed the idea of having the city staff use the structure as a staging area during construction of the One Washington Place project. The downtown area will lose about 129 parking spaces during the construction of the One Washington Place project. The temporary parking lot on the Larson-Becker property is intended to make up for that loss. Once the mixed-use development with its 350-space public parking garage is complete, the city expects to sell off the Larson-Becker properties on both sides of River Street for further commercial development.
KCB
Riverside pump house in Batavia to be demolished
Thursday, February 9, 2017 • Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com
ABOVE: Kids learn to draw a bird Jan. 28 in a class sponsored by Water Street Studios during the Batavia Public Library’s second annual Science & Art Fair. Activities were sponsored by SciTech Hands On Museum, DuPage Children’s Museum, Fox Valley Wildlife Center, Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust, Kane County Forest Preserve District, Water Street Studios and Dr. Mondrian Contreras, a veterinarian.
GETTING STARTED |
Plenty to do at the fair
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