The Green Garden Township Board is advancing an ambitious plan to build a new, larger town hall and community center on a six-acre parcel south of its current location, a project with a preliminary total cost estimated at up to $750,000.

During a July 28 workshop meeting, the board reviewed building designs, debated hiring a project manager, and discussed a tight construction timeline to meet a crucial grant deadline. The plan also drew pointed questions from residents about the project’s budget, placement, and potential impact on neighbors.

The project hinges on securing the transfer of a $500,000 grant from Will County, originally approved for renovating the current town hall. Supervisor Dean Christofilos reported that the application to repurpose the funds for a new build has been submitted to the county’s consultant, Assensure, and is expected to be forwarded to the county for a decision within weeks. A key condition for the grant is a strict project completion deadline of December 31, 2026.

“Time is of the essence,” Christofilos said, outlining an aggressive timeline that includes a special electorate meeting on September 8 for residents to vote on approving the new construction.

The board reviewed several post-frame building options from Lester Buildings. The most discussed design was a roughly 4,000-square-foot structure featuring stone wainscoting and prominent windows, with an estimated cost of around $250,000 for the building shell alone. With concrete work estimated at $40,000 and interior finishing potentially costing $200,000 or more, plus expenses for septic, utilities, and a parking lot, the total project cost is projected to be around $750,000.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on how to manage the complex project. While initially considering dividing responsibilities among board members, the trustees appeared to lean toward hiring a professional general contractor or project manager to ensure the development stays on schedule.

“Somebody get some people out of the township… to see what we can do,” said Trustee Monroe Striggow. “I think we got more than enough to do besides trying to build ourselves.”

The plan drew sharp criticism from some residents in attendance. One resident, Mike, who identified himself as an HVAC professional, warned that the budget may not account for significant expenses like storm sewers, landscaping, or a potentially required sprinkler system for a public assembly building.

“Your expenses that I saw not accounted for, you could easily be up to the 150 mark that’s still not in that budget,” he cautioned. He also questioned the community’s appetite for the expense, stating, “They don’t want to spend that kind of money. They want to take the free money and that’s it.”

Another key concern came from a neighboring resident, who identified himself as Chadman L., whose property abuts the proposed site. He expressed serious reservations about the building’s placement.

“My wife’s hands in that backyard. My son plays in the backyard. I’m going to have people sitting here… windows staring at my family,” he said, also noting concerns about traffic, noise, and parking lot lights.

Supervisor Christofilos defended the project’s vision, framing it as a long-term investment in the community.

“We have to see the vision for the community,” Christofilos stated. “We could have veterans things. We could have bingo. We could have seniors events. You could have a lot of different things to bring the community together.”

The board plans to continue refining the building design and seeking a project manager while awaiting a decision from Will County on the grant transfer. If the grant is approved, the project’s fate will ultimately be decided by residents at the September 8 electorate meeting.