One of DeKalb’s ugly ducklings is about to get a facelift. Bromley Hall, the abandoned dormitory complex at 838 Edgebrook Drive, is undergoing a full-scale renovation.

The building, which used to be a women’s dormitory and a licensed rooming house, was abandoned several years ago and was left as a black eye on the Greek Row community.

Jerry Cherney, business owner and real estate developer, took a look at the building three months ago and decided that he wanted to make it livable again.

“The building was a terrible hazard to the community,” he said.

Cherney feels that renovating the building will improve the area.

“We can really beautify and boost the community,” he said. “It’s a win-win situation. It’s good for the university and good for the city.”

Cherney is using his own money to renovate the building and hopes to have a positive effect on the project.

“It’s not about the money, it’s about how people feel when a new project comes into action,” he added.

NIU graduate student Jeff Davis used to live at 912 Edgebrook Drive, which neighbors the Bromley building. He was not pleased with the sight of the abandoned building. Davis later moved out of the area.

“It’s not appealing at all,” he said. “The building doesn’t seem to fit on the street, period. I’m very glad that the building is being remodeled.”

In the past, the building was owned by the Jewish organization Yeshiva D’var Yeshorim. After the building was abandoned, it became an eyesore and the owners did not take action.

Ernie Pinne, DeKalb’s chief building inspector, discovered various hazards during his inspections. Pinne said windows were broken, people had been walking in and out of the building, weeds were growing everywhere and graffiti was on the walls. As a result, Pinne declared the building dangerous and unsafe.

“There were property maintenance issues and it became an unattractive nuisance to the community,” Pinne said.

The city of DeKalb filed a lawsuit against Yeshiva D’var Yeshorim after the building was found to have violated seven property maintenance codes, assistant city attorney Dawn Didier said.

The city filed the lawsuit on two counts. The first count called for an injunctive release and the second requested a judicial deed. After the lawsuit was filed, Chaim Friedman, president of Yeshiva D’var Yeshorim, transferred the property’s deed to Cherney.

The lawsuit will continue into August and a decision will be made after analyzing new progress that’s been made on the building.

Didier is pleased by Cherney’s actions.

“We’re encouraged by what Jerry is doing,” Didier said. “We’re hoping the building will be in compliance with all of the building codes.”

Cherney hasn’t decided completely what he will make the building into after the construction is finished, but turning it back into a dormitory is a possibility.