A half-sized replica of the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa in Niles needs a full-sized paycheck to reverse its deterioration, according to an engineering study commissioned by the near north suburb.

The study, obtained by the Tribune in a Freedom of Information Act request, says the village would need to budget $600,000 to repair extensive damage and deterioration to the 94-foot-tall concrete, steel and stone tower on Touhy Avenue.

By doing so, the study suggests, the tower's 80-year existence could be "extended by many years."

"I didn't expect the tower would require such extensive work," said Niles Village Manager Steve Vinezeano. "During that downturn in the economy, there was a good chunk of time, probably with most municipalities, where we weren't spending the money we should have on preventive maintenance and infrastructure."

The tower originally belonged to businessman Robert Ilg, who commissioned its construction to hide water filtration tanks for two pools on the grounds of what was at one time a 22-acre park for employees of his commercial electric air ventilating company.

A San Francisco engineering firm designed the Niles tower to tilt about 7 feet, which is roughly half the tilt of its Italian counterpart.

Upon Ilg's death in 1964, the land and tower were left to the YMCA under the stipulation that it keep the tower maintained and standing until 2059. Its condition declined, however, and public access eventually was restricted.

Niles took responsibility for the tower around 1996 and subsequently spent $1.2 million renovating the tower and grounds. Only about $220,000 went toward tower repairs, according to Vinezeano.

Last fall, as concrete continued to crumble, village officials commissioned the engineering study and eventually placed a fence around the tower's perimeter to protect visitors from falling debris.

Much of the tower's extensive damage is due to water penetration and subsequent freeze/thaw cycles that wreak havoc on the concrete, the study concludes.

But Vinezeano said the tower is not in jeopardy of meeting the same fate that forced Italian officials to spend millions rescuing the sinking Pisa tower.

"There's no threat of it falling down as a whole," he said. "I don't think that tower is going away."

The question remains, though, whether the village is willing to spend the money on repairs. About $225,000 is budgeted for repair work, and Vinezeano said plans are being made for a possible arts and culture corridor surrounding the tower.

But Trustee Chris Hanusiak asked why the village would spend any money on a piece of property it does not own.

"It's hard for me to say let's spend another million here when people are still flooding and we're raising taxes," he said.

jbullington@tribune.com

Twitter @jbtribune