A 131-year-old building on Springfield’s north side won’t be torn down after all – at least not yet. That’s because a Sangamon County judge vacated his earlier order of demolition for the building, giving its owner another chance to prove he’ll fix it up.
Jeremy Mann of Springfield is fighting to prevent the demolition of the historic Ridgely village hall, built in 1883.
This undated image shows the building at 1901 Elizabeth Street, just off Peoria Road, when it was a liquor store.
Mann’s nonprofit, the Ponics Project, owns the building, which the City of Springfield contends should be torn down due to dangerous structural issues that Mann has yet to remedy. Mann wants to create a hydroponic garden and community center at the building.
Sangamon County Associate Judge Rudy Braud granted a default judgment against the nonprofit in March, allowing the city to tear down the building if Mann didn’t do it himself. Through his attorney, former alderman Sam Cahnman of Springfield, Mann contested the order, saying he hadn’t been properly served with notice of the lawsuit.
Braud ultimately agreed and vacated his default judgment. The decision gives Mann another chance to show he’s making progress on the building’s renovation.
Cahnman said the ruling gives Mann his day in court to fight for a historic landmark which, Cahnman notes, the city’s Historic Sites Commission has called “a worthwhile project.” The case is now back at square one, Cahnman said.
  “Mr. Mann looks forward to working cooperatively with the city to
correct all building code violations,” Cahnman said, “and restore this structure to its
historical significance.”
Contact Patrick Yeagle at pyeagle@illinoistime.com.
This article appears in May 19-25, 2016.
