The Schaumburg Athletic Association has asked to move into a village-owned property considered historic but facing demolition, and to pay a $1-a-year lease plus renovation costs.

The building at 217 S. Civic Drive is home to the Family Counseling Center, which is moving early next year.

Officials of the non-profit association, which provides sports activities to nearly 6,000 youths,  see the building as space for offices and storage. It now leases space on Lunt Avenue.

A village panel approved a rental agreement Tuesday evening and it will go before the Village Board  next month.

The building dates to 1925 and is considered a locally historic landmark, according to village officials. After association president Denise Anderson expressed interest, she was told of the many structural issues, including damage from a fire, that had led the village to consider demolishing it, said Village Manager Ken Fritz.

Anderson said the association will be able to handle the significant amount of work to bring the building up to code, and renovate it to fit their needs. Licensed contractors who are members of the association will volunteer their time for such projects as knocking down walls, building a new entrance and bringing restrooms up to code.

Village Board members Tuesday stressed that the association must insure their contractors to protect themselves and the village from legal action should anyone be injured during construction. Anderson said the group already was securing an insurance policy.

Under the new lease, the village will only be responsible for cutting the grass, officials said.

Construction is expected to begin this spring, allowing the association to move into the building by September.

kthayer@tribune.com