The future of the Galesburg Armory could be in the hands of the people that want to use the historic building. Three possible designs will be shown off during an open house Wednesday night at the Armory starting at 5:30 p.m.
It's been difficult for a lot of people to walk by the building and see the doors remain closed, but there's now a strong push to remodel the building into something everyone can use.
The Armory has sat empty and not used for its intended purpose for the better part of a decade, and there have been several attempts to re-purpose the building in the past. This time, Galesburg city leaders and the public are getting behind an idea to turn it into a multi-use facility-- a community recreation center and even an event hall.
Three different architecture firms are bidding on the chance to give this building new life, and their designs will be on display during the open house, a time where the public's voice can be heard on the future of the Armory.
"We want to make sure that whatever we do, we do it right the first time. We don't want to do something and find out a few years later oh, that was the wrong decision, let's do something else now," Galesburg Parks and Recreation Director Tony Oligney-Estill said.
There is no guarantee that the Armory gets renovated, even if there's a strong response at the open house from the public.
"At over $3.5 million to renovate into a recreational facility, that's a lot of money for a city this size, and we want to make sure that we're spending that wisely. The council has a difficult decision to make," Oligney-Estill said.
People at the open house can pick out their favorite of the three designs, and the council is expected to take their selection very seriously as renovation discussions move forward.