A Lake Forest institution may soon be home to another community landmark, the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society.

Interim Gorton Director and Lake Forest City Manager Bob Kiely announced at Monday night's city council meeting that the historical society board has enthusiastically endorsed looking into the Gorton Community Center as its new location.

"This opportunity offers a lot of benefits to Gorton," Kiely told council members. "It opens up multiple opportunities in Lake Forest."

The Historical Society has been located at 361 E. Westminster, the former Masonic Temple site, for approximately 10 years.

At its Nov. 3 Board of Directors meeting, the Historical Society passed a resolution to investigate Gorton as a new home that includes space for current and future collections.

Gorton is considered a good fit for the museum and archives of the Historical Society because of its location, which is in the Cultural Corridor of Lake Forest with the library, and close proximity to Lake Forest College.

In addition, Gorton has high visibility within the community, is a historic building that has spaces for lectures, groups, and school groups, and a greater parking capacity than the current Historical Society site.

"I think the Historical Society is a potential great fit," said Mayor James Cowhey.  "I would like to figure out a way to make that work."

According to Kiely, a Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society move to Gorton could also possibly create another potential site for affordable housing within Lake Forest, since the land is owned by the city.

Kiely told city leaders he plans to bring a resolution to the city council in January to form an exploratory team made up of representatives from Gorton, the library, the Historical Society, the Housing Trust Committee, and some elected officials to further investigate the move.

A Change in Organizational Structure

In addition to the Historical Society, another potential change at Gorton was brought before the city council at Monday's meeting.

The Interim Gorton Board, which was put in place last summer after financial problems almost led to its closure, is recommending the city council reinstitute the organizational structure used until 2003.

Interim Gorton Chairman George Pandeleon presented the proposed structure which would give the Mayor and the city council the authority to appoint and approve future Gorton Commission members.

In addition, the Interim Board recommended an executive director of Gorton be contracted for a one year trial period, reporting to the Lake Forest city manager.

"The interim board has determined that it has the funds to reimburse the city for a year," Pandeleon explained, adding he expects to recommend specific commission members and an executive director to the city council by year end.

Gorton will also keep only a minimal support staff as part of the recommendations,  and also report to the city manager.

The city council unanimously approved the first reading of the ordinance amending the city code relating to Gorton, and expressed their approval for the direction the Interim Board has taken the community center since they took the reigns just a few months ago.

"It's obviously more than breaking even," said First Ward Alderman and Finance Committee Chairperson David Grumhaus. "Things are definitely moving in the right direction."