Elmhurst Street Different From Rest Of Town

ELMHURST, IL – A street in Elmhurst contains a hodgepodge of things, seemingly disconnected from the rest of town.

It's Riverside Drive.

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Even its name is not exactly right. There is no river. Salt Creek is nearby.

On the north, the street, which is three-quarters of a mile, links to the five-legged intersection that includes Route 83, across from Walmart in Villa Park.

A few years ago, a city official referred to the junction as the "Wild West." The city has received federal money to fix the disorder, a project that is expected in the next couple of years.

The northern part of Riverside contains industrial buildings, a hotel and even a school.

Salt Creek Primary School is along Riverside Drive. It is the only public school in town that is not part of Elmhurst School District 205. (David Giuliani/Patch)

What appear to be two small houses are in the commercial strip. But Google Maps indicates they, too, are businesses.

Lately, Clarion Inn has been getting a lot of attention. A developer is asking the city for permission to demolish the hotel and build a 32-dock warehouse, which many residents oppose.

On Tuesday, a raccoon exited a dumpster behind the hotel carrying food in its mouth. Another peered out of the bin when a person approached.

Behind the hotel is an area that appears to be for drainage. On the other side of that is Salt Creek, with a path alongside it.

On the southern part of Riverside are houses. It is one of the few streets in town without curbs, let alone sidewalks.

Riverside ends at the three-legged intersection with Frontage Road and Avery Street, which has curbs and sidewalks.

At the southern entrance to Riverside, there is a "dead end" sign.

Is it a dead end? Officially, yes.

Salt Creek Primary School is at the divide between the residential and industrial parts of Riverside. A short distance of Riverside next to the school is blocked off with "Do Not Enter" signs.

That means trucks from the industrial section cannot use the residential part of Riverside as a shortcut.

But no gate exists. This is so emergency responders can get through.

On the north side of the forbidden zone is the city's public works complex.

At a public meeting Tuesday night, a city official said public works employees indicate the "Do Not Enter" signs are largely obeyed. But residents in the audience disagreed.

Riverside Drive is different in one other major way: The street and a few others in southwest Elmhurst are part of Salt Creek School District 48, not Elmhurst District 205.

Salt Creek Primary School on Riverside is kindergarten through eighth grade. After that, students go on to Villa Park's Willowbrook High School, not Elmhurst's York.

Another thing about Riverside: You're apparently likely to see deer.

A sign near the school warns drivers about the animals. How often do you see that in Elmhurst?

The area behind Clarion Inn is for drainage. On the other side of the trees is Salt Creek, which has a pathway alongside it. (David Giuliani/Patch)

Two raccoons on Tuesday were searching for food in a dumpster behind Clarion Inn, which is on Riverside Drive. (David Giuliani/Patch)