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1 • Thursday, July 6, 2017 - The Elmhurst Independent
Elmhurst’s Locally Owned and Operated Hometown Newspaper
VOL. 22 • NO. 28
WWW.THEINDEPENDENTNEWSPAPERS.COM
Redeemer Lutheran plans $3 million renovation project Area land, lots to be sold, reconfigured for greater accessibility
By Dee Longfellow FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT
If you’ve driven down St. Charles Road past Redeemer Lutheran Church lately, you’ve probably noticed a great many For Sale signs on the land surrounding the area near Kenilworth. The Independent was able to catch up with David Hanni, the current president of the Redeemer Lutheran congregation, who is staying the efforts to move forward on what is expected to be a $3 million project. “We had a Capital Campaign and managed to raise about $600,000 from among our church members,” he said. “But it wasn’t enough for all the renovations we want to do, so we had to find another way to finance the project. We decided we needed to trade some of our land for cash to make up the difference.” Among the biggest and most expensive pieces of the renovation will be the addition of an elevator to accommodate disabled members and visitors to the church. “We’ve been a little behind the times in terms of ADA-compliance, so we need to bring the church up to date,” Hanni said. “Besides adding an elevator, we plan to make the restrooms accessible, add rails where they’re needed, etc. That all takes considerable resources.”
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We’ve been a little behind the times in terms of ADA-compliance, so we need to bring the church up to date.”
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TAKE ONE
THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2017
Fallen vet honored as we celebrate nation’s independence
– Redeemer Lutheran Church president David Hanni
The property to be sold includes five lots along Arlington Avenue, of which four are currently under contract, Hanni said. There is a 75-foot lot that is going to be on the north side of the Redeemer Center. Part of the renovation plan is to move all the parking for the church to that location. “It’s the easiest, most accessible spot to both the Center and the Church,” he said. “There’ll also be more handicapped parking on the west side of the church — we’ll be taking down a garage located there — and the elevator will be located on the west side of the building.” Hanni said the church would be going before the City to request a variance and conditional use. Those papers have already been filed or will be very soon. “We’re asking forgiveness on the number of required parking spots because we can easily use street parking instead,” he said.
Inside:
DEE LONGFELLOW PHOTO Elmhurst Independent
On Sunday, June 25, the Elmhurst Veterans Commission and members of the American Legion Post #187 gathered to enter the name of Richard D. Sikkema, deceased June 9, 2017, in the Roll of Remembrance at the Veterans Memorial in Wilder Park. Here, volunteers hoist a flag up the pole in honor of Sikkema. The event was appropriately timed, happening less than two weeks prior to July 4, the celebration of our nation’s independence. Sikkema served on the destroyer USS Pope which was sunk by the Japanese on March 2, 1942 in the battle of the Java Sea. He was held as a prisoner of war for 3 1/2 years, remaining a captive beyond the end of WWII. Sikkema was the uncle of long-time Elmhurst resident Joyce Slone. 286825
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