Rockford City Council votes to demolish Elks Club

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford city leaders voted to demolish the former Elks Club, a historic landmark, during a city council meeting on Monday.

The decision to tear down the building, which was constructed in 1912 and has been vacant since 1990, came after a tied vote was broken by Mayor McNamara. The demolition is expected to cost the city nearly $250,000.

The former Elks Club, also known as Elk’s Lodge #64, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was once used by a chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a fraternal organization founded in 1887. The building featured amenities such as a swimming pool, gymnasium, dining room, and apartments.

In 2021, a judge ordered the building to be demolished due to its state of disrepair, which posed safety risks including falling bricks and roof portions landing on the sidewalk. Despite efforts by the property owner to address these issues, the city has decided to proceed with the demolition.

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