A rendering of one replacement proposal for the wall in front of the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Lincoln Center administration building, which would have a brick base. - Original Credit: News-Sun (Waukegan District / HANDOUT)

When the Waukegan Historic Preservation Commission decides whether to recommend making the nearly 150-year-old wall in front of the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Lincoln Center administration building a landmark, it may not have the property owner’s wishes to consider.

The District 60 Board of Education voted 5-2 Tuesday against an administration proposal to remove the existing brick wall and replace it with an ornamental fence and brick columns, as some board members want to wait until the city acts.

Acting as a private citizen, board member Anita Hanna submitted an application to the commission on Oct. 3 proposing landmark status for the wall. The administration proposal is contingent on the outcome of the landmark process.

Damage from car crashes and aging necessitated the proposed removal of the more than century-old wall in front of the Lincoln Center administration building for Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 on Sheridan Road. (Waukegan District / Lake County News-Sun)

Superintendent Theresa Plascencia was emphatic no work will be done on the wall until the city makes a final determination. She wants administrators — working with city officials, or speaking at public meetings — to be able to present the position of the property owner, District 60.

“No one is going to touch the fence,” she said. “However, the city and everyone wants to know the recommendation of the board. We are asking for a vote tonight so we can voice the sentiment of the board when we’re working with different entities.”

With no recommendation, LeBaron Moten, the district’s deputy superintendent for operations support and programs, said when speaking to the commission or the Waukegan City Council, he will not be able to speak for the board.

“Unless we receive direction, the property owner does not come with a recommendation,” Moten said, suggesting what he will say publicly.

Moten said the district can hire an engineering firm to design the new wall and bids can be collected from prospective contractors, but unless the city rejects the application, no work will commence.

Ty Rohrer, the historic preservation commission chair, said the body is required to hold a public hearing by Dec. 1. He anticipates it will take place in early November. If the commission determines the wall is not worthy of landmark status, the process ends.

Should the commission give a positive recommendation, the City Council has the final say. Rohrer said the entire process could take 90 days. The council is free to accept or reject the suggestion.

Moten said the current recommendation includes removing the wall and replacing it with a fence. One rendering shows a brick base, brick pillars and steel horizontal bars. The other design is similar, without the base.

The estimated cost is approximately $250,000, according to district documents. It will run the length of the property. The current wall does not. Insurance will cover around $150,000 stemming from restoration work after two vehicle crashes in the past year.

Board member Rick Riddle, who voted for the proposition along with Jeff McBride, said it is important city officials know the collective opinion of the district as expressed by a majority of the board members.

“They need to know what our intention is so that the decisions can be made going forward,” Riddle said. “We’re not going to move forward with this. It’s only our intention until the historical society makes its next move.”

This rendering of a suggested wall model would have no base. - Original Credit: News-Sun (Waukegan District / HANDOUT)

Some board members, like Charlotte Callahan Wozniak who voted against the proposition, did not specifically offer a position on the future of the wall, but did not want to make a decision in the midst of uncertainty.

“I am totally confused,” Wozniak said. “Why are we voting on this tonight? If we can’t tear it down, we can’t tear it down. I personally think we’re putting the cart before the horse. We don’t need to make a decision on this until the process (with the city) is complete.”

Joining Wozniak voting against the administration proposal were board members Hanna, Adriana Gonzalez, President Brandon Ewing and Lucy Leguizamo. Gonzalez said she does not want any barrier. Leguizamo said her vote was against the timing more than the proposal.

“I’m on the fence about the fence,” Leguizamo said. “It looks amazing. It looks nice. It looks great,” she added, referring to the renderings. “It will definitely blend in well with the community. I like the historical aspect. I like saying, ‘This is what this used to be.’”

Ewing said he voted no to let the city make its decision. He also invited the administration to bring the proposal for a vote again.

Hanna, who participated in the discussion and vote even though she is the applicant as a private individual, said the idea of recusing herself from the discussion did not occur to her.

“I did not think about it,” Hanna said. “I just got caught up in the discussion.”