The former Elks Club in Rockford was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, and given local landmark status in Rockford in 2004. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — There was no movement this week on the city’s legal attempt to force the owner of the former Elks Club in downtown to demolish the building.

City legal staff attended a status hearing on Thursday on a petition to find Argyll Properties, the Rockford-based historic redevelopment company that owns the property, in contempt for not demolishing the building per court order.

The judge recommended that both parties meet to discuss a timeline for implementing interim measures that would address public safety concerns, but did not rule on the petition, city spokesperson Laura Maher said.

Related: Former Elk’s Lodge named one of the Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois

The next status hearing is scheduled for May 9.

A week earlier, the building was in the news after being named one of the Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. The 110-year-old building at 210 W. Jefferson Street was named among five historic buildings across Illinois that could be destroyed.

“The building is in disrepair due to the current owner’s neglect, requires emergency repairs and poses a public safety risk,” Landmark Illinois, an advocacy group that created the most endangered list, wrote in its report on the property. “It faces an immediate threat of demolition.”

The former Elks Club was built in 1912, but the club vacated the property in the 1990s and it has been deteriorating ever since. The building was previously donated to Goodwill Industries, which made some improvements and sold it to the current owner about 10 years ago, according to Landmarks Illinois.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas .

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