Ashmann’s Pharmacy was open Wednesday despite a gaping hole in the wall. A new window will soon fill the hole as work continues on the nearly $180,000 improvement project on the 119-year-old building.

Much of the work is necessary because of the damage sustained when the UMB Bank building, which abutted the building at 209 E. Main St., Collinsville, was razed as part of Illinois Route 159 expansion project. The Illinois Department of Transportation will pay $120,000 for work directly related to the demolition of UMB bank.

Photo by Roger Starkey

Workers spent about three weeks removing remnants of the bank’s brick wall from the side of building, Ashmann’s Pharmacy owner Lenny Locus said. A crew under the direction of Brase Construction, of Troy, is now completing the project, which include tuck-pointing, painting the brick walls, replacing gutters and downspouts, sealing and painting the south and east façades, extending the awning to the west wall, adding major architectural details and installing the new display window.

The renovation was originally scheduled for completion by the end of August. Because work started about a week later than expected, Locus said he is unsure of the new target end date.

The City of Collinsville worked with Locus for about two years on the project, getting Henderson Associates Architects involved, Uptown Coordinator Leah Joyce said. The project is important to the city, Joyce said, because of its prominent location.

Tax-increment financing of $23,840 – 40 percent of the $59,600 price tag not covered by IDOT — will be reimbursed to Locus at the completion of the project. The City Council approved the expenditure on May 28.

“I think this is a really impressive redevelopment,” Joyce said. “This is a good example of how our TIF grant program can be utilized.”