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U.S. funds to help Pace pay for new office center

Chicago Tribune, June 7, 2007
by Richard Wronski

In what Pace officials called a necessary and cost-efficient step, the suburban bus agency on Wednesday approved construction of a $13.7 million administrative center in Arlington Heights.

Pace has been contemplating the project for 12 years, but it gave the go-ahead just as the region's transportation agencies face a $226 million operating fund shortfall for this year.

Money for the 60,000-square-foot center, however, is coming largely from previously dedicated capital funds, Pace spokeswoman Judi Kulm said. Most of the money, about $7.7 million, comes from a federal grant that Pace would lose if the money was not used for the new center, Kulm said.

The two-story center will be built adjacent to Pace's 45-year-old offices at 550 W. Algonquin Rd. Construction will begin this summer and will take about a year, Kulm said.

Pace officials have long described their 45,000-square-foot headquarters as outdated, inefficient and cramped. It needs $3.5 million worth of heating, air-conditioning and roof repairs, Kulm said.

"We might be throwing away more money if we keep this building," Kulm said. "This is the most cost-effective thing to do."

The new building will be very basic and utilitarian, Kulm said.

The low bidder on the project was Nicholas and Associates of Mt. Prospect.