Illinois Vacant Building Increasing County Insurance Bill

Officials in Vermillion County in eastern Illinois say concerns about a vacant skyscraper makes it more expensive to insure an adjacent county building.

The 12-story Bresee Tower in downtown Danville is the tallest building in the county. It was built in 1917 and has been vacant since 2006.

The News-Gazette in Champaign reports Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer said the building’s exterior terra cotta falls away as it weathers. Those chunks can damage the adjacent building.

Vermilion County Financial Resources Director Nikki Bogart says the insurance costs are increasing by 30 percent. That will increase county costs by about $50,000 a year.

Bresee Tower isn’t very big by modern standards. However, in 2012 it was listed on the state’s Ten Most Endangered Historic Places list.