Burzynski: Cole Hall Demolition ‘Off the Table’ Updated X1
March 3rd, 2008 at 04:43pm Andrea Zimmermann
Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, said Monday that he doesn’t think NIU’s plan to replace Cole Hall, where a gunman recently killed five students plus himself, is going anywhere.
“Demolition is going to be taken off the table, and what I think is going to occur now is there is going to be discussion on campus of if there is good use for the building, what it should be and those kinds of things,” Burzynski said.
Our below post on this topic was getting far too long, but if want some more background on this rapidly evolving story please go here.
Burzynski said he was surprised by some elements of the $40 million plan to replace Cole Hall. After the excitement died down, Burzynski said he realized selling $40 million in bonds would not be fiscally prudent.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, together with NIU President John Peters, announced the plan at NIU last Wednesday. Burzynski and Rep. Robert Pritchard, R-Sycamore, stood with them.
“Everyone got caught up in the governor’s announcement and willingness to try to help the university,” Burzynski said.Pritchard on Monday stood by his earlier position to help the university with its most pressing need – additional classrooms. He said solving the need for more classrooms may evolve as the NIU community and the Legislature continues to discuss the future of Cole Hall.
“We may come up with a plan that may look a little different than it is today,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard stopped short of concurring with Burzynski’s harsh assessment, saying it was not clear to him whether the $40 million rebuilding plan would get anywhere.
“Any legislation has to go through a process of input from both citizens and legislators, and as more people have time to weigh in on that decision, it is always typical that things could change,” he said.
UPDATE 1 — by AC
NIU officials today did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Entry Filed under: Robert Pritchard, Brad Burzynski, Northern Illinois University, Illinois Budget
4 Comments Add your own
1. truckertom | March 4th, 2008 at 8:45 am
PLS STOP these PEOPLE. HELP US IN ILLINOIS.
2. jean margheim | March 4th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Please do not let the governor pass this proposal for tearing down Cole Hall. It isn’t going to take care of anyone’s grief nor be the best memorial for this situation. Bottom line is that Illinois can’t get their budget together, nor pay the people and institutions in this state that are already part of our budget. Where does the governor think he’s going to find $40 million for a building that is still functional? It scares me to think what he might think up next. I feel sorry for all of you that have to deal with this mind set every day. Thanks for standing firm on this issue, Brad. We appreciate you.
3. In Chambers » NIU B&hellip | March 4th, 2008 at 11:40 am
[…] Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees never had a meeting concerning the controversial plan to raze Cole Hall and replace it with another […]
4. In Chambers » NIU P&hellip | March 4th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
[…] Peters letter came a day after Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, threw water on the $40 million rebuilding plan by calling it “off the table.” Burzynski backed the plan last Wednesday, when Gov. Rod […]
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