Big Elmhurst Building Projects Detailed; City Sees Permit Surge

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst has seen an 18 percent increase in building permits this year, totaling about 1,650 as of the end of August.

Year-to-date, the city has issued 66 single-family home permits, up from 55 at the same time a year earlier.

"We expect to see similar brisk construction activity not only in residential but also commercial properties," Elmhurst's acting manager, Kent Johnson, told the City Council on Monday.

Johnson listed planned private sector projects as well as ongoing or completed ones:

• Townhome development planned on Lake Street consisting of 36 units. It was approved years ago.
• Expansion of the McMaster-Carr plant.
• Elmhurst Hospital has completed a new cardiac center and standalone office building. An expansion of the cancer center is in the works.
• A new medical office building for Rush University Medical Center is underway at the old York Furrier store at 107 N. York St.
• A concept apartment building is planned for Virginia Street.
• Timothy Christian Schools is working on an addition.
• LA Fitness is being converted into a Club Studio. The same company runs both chains, with Club Studio considered more upscale.

At the council meeting, aldermen said they were concerned about delays in building inspections.

Alderman Jacob Hill described it as a "fairly dire" situation. He said he would be open to spending more city money if it solved the problem.

"This is one of the things I've heard consistently from contractors in the city," Hill said.

Johnson said the city has been without a building inspector for a year. During that time, the building commissioner has filled the role, working double duty, Johnson said.

In the last couple of weeks, he said, the city hired a contract inspector to help with the workload, already reducing wait times. Typically, the city sees permit applications surge in the spring and fall, he said.

The city is having a hard time finding someone with the right certifications, Johnson said.

"We're struggling just like other towns are," he said.

Alderman Michael Bram said he was concerned when he had work done at his house last year.

"Essentially, there were two different inspectors needing to come out for the sidewalk and one for the steps," Bram said. "I just saw inefficiencies, delaying the project and increasing staff time. So I'm glad to hear it's being looked at and improvements are being discussed."