Bid Approved for Stone Avenue Train Station Renovation

The La Grange Village Board on Monday approved a bid from Boller Construction Co. for a $1.1 million project to replace the roof, gutters and downspouts at the Stone Avenue train station, the Doings La Grange reported Tuesday. 

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Before accepting the bid on Monday, the village twice rejected bids on the project that either exceeded Legat's budget estimates or did not meet required targets for participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, according to a village staff memo. 

The village entered into a contract with Legat Architects for Phase I design services in 2008. Legat presented recommendations for renovation of the station that would cost between $3 million and $4 million, according to a village staff memo. In September of 2011, the village approved agreements with Metra for federal and local grants related to the project and for operation and maintenance at a new station.

The project will be funded mostly by a $700,000 federal grant and a $385,000 grant from the West Suburban Mass Transit District.

The village was also awarded a $40,000 for security systems at the La Grange Road and Stone Avenue stations, and has applied for a $155,000 in grants to improve the grounds at the station, according to the Doings.

In a letter to the village, Marc Rohde of Legat Architects wrote that the project should be complete by May 30, 2014. 

Here's a little history about the Stone Avenue station, written by Laurie Kapugi:

In 1901, David Lyman built Stone Avenue Station at its current location—the consturction cost $10,375 at the time. It was designed by the engineering staff of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Rail Road—they gained inspiration from the Kenilworth Depot, which had been erected over a decade earlier. The building still stands today at Kenilworth Avenue between Green Bay Road and Richmond Road.

Stone Avenue Station was built from limestone that came from a local quarry just miles from the station. The Kenilworth Depot had two massive stone arches, and in an attempt to outdo the building that was the inspiration, the arches were doubled to four, giving it a symmetrical composition. Originally, the station had an elaborate sign jutting from the building, which mimicked the Kenilworth building. Eventually the sign was taken down, but the Kenilworth sign is still part of the Kenilworth Depot.

Our train station might not have a coffee shop in it and be new and modern, but more than 100 years later, it still stands and provides charm to our village and was designated a village landmark in 1971.