Oct. 21--The controversial bleachers built without city permission at Crystal Lake South High School are coming down -- but not all the way.
The Community High School District 155 school board approved a conceptual plan late Tuesday to lower the bleachers to just nine rows -- or about 18 feet high, down from 50 feet -- and to add a landscaping buffer for nearby residents, some of whom sued the school over the stands.
The plan would reduce seating capacity from about 2,500 to about 950, but other seating would be added on the opposite side of the field, which will revert to being the home-side stands, as was the case before the district spent $1.2 million to build the tall bleachers in 2013 that prompted the outcry from neighbors and city officials.
The press box also would be moved to the east side of the football field. A small pavilion would be eliminated on that side, but nearby tennis courts and the concession stand will not be affected, district officials said.
The partial dismantling of the west-side bleachers could take about six weeks and could begin in coming days, said Jeff Daurer, the district's director of operations.
The cost of the entire project is estimated at almost $1.5 million, including a $233,000 bid that's been approved just for the demolition work.
The district plans to go before the city's zoning board, possibly in November, Daurer said.
That's a turnaround from school officials' long contention that they did not need city approval for the bleachers, even though the structure did not meet city requirements on height and setback from nearby properties.
The district has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting the neighbors in court and appealed the case to the Illinois Supreme Court, despite losing in the circuit court and appellate courts. The Supreme Court also ruled against the district.
Jeff Gurba, whose home is directly behind the bleachers and who is one of the neighbors who sued, said his family has been harassed and threatened by bleacher supporters. He said his teenage daughter has been "tormented" by other students.
"Her high school experience has been terrible," he said.
The parties are due back in McHenry County court Thursday to give a progress report to Judge Michael Chmiel, who had previously ordered the bleachers to be demolished but agreed to wait for a ruling on the appeal. The court-ordered demolition now is due to go into effect Oct. 29.
School board member Amy Blazier questioned the need for such large bleachers on the east side, but Daurer said he was told the bleachers often are filled to capacity for games and events such as graduation.
Blazier also questioned what would happen if the board did not approve the conceptual plan presented Tuesday night.
"Any delay in us not moving forward would appear we are not moving forward in good faith" and working with the city and the neighbors, Superintendent Johnnie Thomas said.
Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter.
