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CITY OF WEST CHICAGO

                         PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
                       AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
ITEM TITLE:
                                     AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: ____7.V.______
Contract Extension with MKSK Studios to Prepare an Ar-
chitectural and Historical Survey of the City’s Existing His-  COMMITTEE AGENDA DATE: Feb 17,
toric Districts and Select Residential Neighborhoods
                                                 2026 COUNCIL AGENDA DATE: Feb 17,

Resolution No. 26-R-0018                            2026

PREPARED BY: John Sterrett, Interim Director of Com-    SIGNATURE: ________________________
munity Development
                                            SIGNATURE: ________________________
APPROVED BY: Tia Messino, Interim City Administrator

In May of 2025, the City Council contracted with MKSK Studios to prepare an architectural and historical
survey of the City’s two existing historic districts as well as four residential neighborhoods that contain his-
torically significant homes. This survey is being conducted because the City’s two existing historic districts,
Turner Junction and East Washington Street, were originally surveyed in 1990 and 1998, respectively, and
are in need of an update. Furthermore, staff was directed by the City’s Historical Preservation Commission
to also pursue surveying residential neighborhoods in the immediate areas surrounding the downtown to
determine the historical significance of the homes. These areas include Old Heidelberg, Town of Turner,
Town of Junction, and the Elmwood and Highland residential neighborhood. The survey project is con-
sistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which encourages the City to “Consider a wide variety of strat-
egies and policies to promote and raise awareness of the City’s historical assets”.
MKSK was anticipating starting field work for the survey in September, however, this work did not begin
until mid-October 2025 once most of the leaves had fallen from trees for better visibility of structures. Field
work saw a brief delay in January due to the extreme cold. A total of 350 properties have been surveyed
with roughly 100 to be completed. All surveying and the final report were originally anticipated to be com-
pleted by the end of February. Because of the late start to field work and the brief interruption from the cold
weather, the surveying will not be completed until the end of February and the final report will not be com-
pleted until the end of March. Staff, therefore, recommends that the City Council adopt an extension of the
completion of the project to April 30, 2026 and extend the contract with MKSK to this date. The additional
two months of extension will grant MKSK additional time if any further interruptions in the final surveying
occur and ensure completeness of the final report. There will be no additional costs beyond what was orig-
inally agreed to because of the contract extension.
ACTION PROPOSED:
Consideration of the contract extension with MKSK Studios Inc. to complete the field work survey and final
report by April 30, 2026.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: