State Takes Heat Over Cost Of Capitol Building Doors
By aaroncynic in News on Sep 5, 2013 5:45PM
The State of Illinois is taking heat over the cost of three copper plated doors that are part of a $50 million renovation of the Capitol building. The Sun-Times reports Capitol Architect J. Richard Alsop III confirmed the ornate carved doors cost taxpayers $669,608 after reporters began raising questions about the price tag. Alsop said the doors, which are part of an effort to make the Capitol appear as it did in the 1800’s, give the building a “desired and appropriate historical fabric.”
In a statement, Alsop added:
“We must remember that these are custom doors with carvings that do not exist on a shelf at your typical home-improvement store.”
Both watchdog groups and some state legislators however, see the doors as an unnecessary expense in a state beleaguered by backlogged bills. State Rep. Jeanne Ives said the state should act like a “responsible homeowner” and “upgrade later to an old stately look when we can afford to.” Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, asked why the doors were given a higher priority than other infrastructure improvements.
Msall scolded the Legislature:
“Every time every member of the General Assembly touches those doors, they should be reminded the reason they have them is because they didn’t have a comprehensive capital improvement plan outlining how much the doors and other specifics of their capital spending would be.”
According to the Rockford Register Star, the renovation project at the Capitol building is nearly complete. Despite an increased cost of about $6 million from the original price tag, Alsop, who said the project was still on budget, stands by the work:
“Having a building like this is a jewel, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the state Capitol being a building that draws the public in.”