EVANSTON — City officials took a tour inside sections two, three and four of the Evanston Roundhouse for the city council work session on Aug. 28. The purpose of the tour was to personally view the completed construction and the addition that had, at one time in the past, been added on to sections three and four. 

Evanston City Clerk Amy Grenfell and Director of Engineering and Planning Dean Barker led the group of 14 and provided data on the completed work and what is yet to be done with flooring and doors in section two.  The wood beams and columns throughout the sections have been cleaned, lighting is in and work is being done on removing old concrete flooring.  

They then progressed to sections three and four where 11 wooden columns had been attached to the original brick columns to extend the building out approximately 10 feet. It is surmised that the addition was added when engines became too long for the original space. The addition, which is built predominately of wood, is in poor condition and at this point is a visual distraction from the rest of the structure.

The tour resumed outside the building and Grenfell pointed out the cameras and lighting that have been placed around the top of the structure to prevent future vandalism. She also showed where the future parking lot and sidewalks would be.

The mayor and the city council will now review the cost of repairing the addition versus removing it, its historical value, and their thoughts after viewing it first hand, in order to make a decision so that construction can be resumed in those sections.