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Alex Johnson | Northern Star
The Engh Farmstead in Sycamore, which until now stood empty, was recently donated to the local YMCA. The Sycamore City Council voted to turn the farmstead into a museum and recreation center.
City council decides on new Engh Farm location
The Sycamore City Council voted 5-2 in favor of a joint proposal to turn the Engh Farmstead property into a museum and recreation center.
After discussion on the future use of the Sycamore property, a decision was voted on and finalized at a public hearing Monday, Jan. 7.
The council chose from three organizations: Sycamore Park District, the Sycamore Historical Society and the Kishwaukee Family YMCA.
DeKalb County Court Services and the Sycamore Historical Society and Museum approached the city in June with long-term proposals on a range of uses for the land.
At Monday’s public hearing, two finalized proposals were discussed, one from the DeKalb County Court Services and the second for the joint proposal to use the land for the museum and recreational center.
Grace Adee, 3rd Ward alderman, supported the second idea.
“The museum has been looking for a home for quite some time,” Adee said.
“People always question how Sycamore began and what brought Sycamore to be where and what it is today.”
However, the plan was not supported by all.
Sycamore resident Bart Desch does not support the city’s future plans for Engh Farm.
“I don’t think it’s a good move for the residents of Sycamore,” Desch saidv. “I don’t think it’s the job of Sycamore to further assist the extending of the city at the expense of the city, and I feel strongly that it will not benefit anyone in Sycamore.”
The property consists of both small and large residences, a two-car garage, corn crib, wooden barn and hog building.
The DeKalb County Court Services was interested in using the property as a foster home for young males and females charged with domestic violence or somehow otherwise involved in the court system.
Although the foster home idea was supported, the city thought the farmstead was not the best location for this plan and the three-group proposal would benefit more people, Adee said.
“There are so many positive things that could come out of this,” Adee said. “Engh Farm is a good place for people to look for good things to happen. We hope that continues.”
The city is still helping to find a better location for the foster home, Adee said.
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