Two eyesores in Romeoville will soon be torn down, paving the way for the future redevelopment of the Route 53 corridor.

The Romeoville Village Board on Wednesday approved contract agreements with Oakbrook Terrace-based Robinette Demolition Inc. to tear down both the former Crazy Rock Gentlemen’s Club at 9 Rock Road and the Spartans' Square shopping center in the village’s proposed downtown redevelopment area.

The village purchased the former Crazy Rock earlier this year for about $1.35 million, but after inspection, village officials found that the building was in poor condition and would require significant funds to bring it up to code, Assistant Village Manager Dawn Caldwell said. The building also contained asbestos, she said.

Because of its poor condition, the board voted to demolish it so that the land could be redeveloped in the future.

Demolition, which will cost no more than $80,000, will begin in December and take about two weeks to complete.

Nearby, demolition of the Spartans' Square mall will also begin this year and be completed by June.

The former Jewel and Ace Hardware stores will be torn down this year with the remaining buildings set for demolition next June as part of the two-phased project, Caldwell said.

Cost of the demolition will be about $215,000, with about $74,000 of that money going towards asbestos removal.

Village officials said that removing the longtime buildings will be part of a larger redevelopment process to kickstart the revitalization of the Route 53 corridor.

“It’s really starting the momentum going for the downtown redevelopment,” Caldwell said.

Already, pieces are falling into place.

On Friday, the village broke ground on the new Athletic and Event Center, an $8 million project that will house indoor soccer, basketball and volleyball as well as five multipurpose rooms with moveable wall partitions to adapt to different community events and activities.

The Athletic and Event Center will be located at Town Hall Drive and Phelps Avenue and is expected to be completed in December 2013.

Once the project is complete, it's anticipated the village will enter into an agreement with a management company to manage the building for the first five years.

The concept plan for the downtown redevelopment initiative, which has been in planning stages for about 10 years, also includes a 20,000-square-foot grocery store and three other outlots of about 5,000 square feet each. Nearby is the recently remodeled White Oak Public Library.

Trustee Sue Micklevitz said administration, village officials and residents have researched ways to make the downtown area more vibrant. The new athletic center will be a draw to the area and attract future businesses, she said.

In other news, the village board on Wednesday honored nearly 20 children that make up the K.I.D.S. organization. The group (Kids Into Donating & Serving) perform philanthropic acts throughout the community, including hosting a book drive and collecting backpacks and coats for those less fortunate.

Children from preschool to high school participate in various community service activities.

The village board also announced the 19th annual Harvest Saturday food drive, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17. Residents can place a food donation that will benefit the area’s needy families outside their front door by 11 a.m. and it will be picked up by teams of volunteers throughout the day.

The food drive is sponsored by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, the Community Christian Church and the United Presbyterian Church.

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