The Nichols Library building at 110 S. Washington St. in Downtown Naperville was owned by the city before housing Truth Lutheran Church for more than 20 years. Now, the church is looking for a new home, and developers are proposing a new development for the old library site, according to the Chicago Tribune. Here’s a quick look at what the project could mean for Naperville.

Nichols Library photo courtesy of Bcsimon15

The New Development Proposal Features Townhomes and Commercial Space

The $21 million proposal features a four-story building. The ground floor would be for retail and commercial space, while the top three floors would have 21 condos. The developers also plan to add an underground parking garage with 28 spaces and 14 alley-level parking spots. The rooftop would be available as a resident amenity. The proposal also calls for an outdoor plaza. 

Serafin and Associates are the developers proposing the new project, while Kluber Architects and Engineers have released renderings of the development. 

The Library Building Would Be Incorporated Into the New Development

The Nichols Library is 120 years old. In September 2017, petitioners won a victory when protection of the old library building was approved. The library building will remain standing, while the new development will be constructed on its south and east sides. “As of right now, the internal use of the building has not been determined,” Lissa Druss of Serafin and Associates told the Chicago Tribune.

The Old Library Building Would Be Restored

The developers are planning to restore the limestone exterior of the building as a part of the project. They will replace the main entry with a replica door, replace the roof and windows, and make a number of repairs, according to the report. 

A part of the library will not make it into the new development. Per the report, an addition to the building, made in the 1960s, is being demolished. The city found it was not compatible with the library’s architecture.

The development may face further challenges. Nonprofit Landmark Illinois named the Nichols Library building on its list of “most endangered historic places” in the state, according to Positively Naperville. The organization is urging residents to “push for redevelopment that reuse the entire building and not allow dismantling, facadisms, or relocation.” 

The Naperville Historic Preservation Commission is expected to review the development proposal later this month. 

The Development Would Generate $1M-Plus in Taxes

If the project is approved, it could generate approximately $1.24 million in new taxes, according to the report. Of that amount, roughly $1 million would stay in Naperville and fund things like local schools.