Closing York Street To Draw Crowds? Elmhurst Says No

ELMHURST, IL – Some Elmhurst officials argued Monday against regularly closing York Street during summer weekends.

Others urged bold action to set Elmhurst's downtown apart. They noted towns such as Arlington Heights shut down downtown streets, resulting in packed restaurants and bars.

In 2022, the city debated the idea. But Mayor Scott Levin and other officials rejected closing York Street to promote outdoor dining and other activities.

Now, the city only blocks York for the biggest events, such as Rock the Block and the Turkey Trot.

For the last couple of months, a City Council committee, made up of aldermen Mike Brennan, Karen Sienko and Brian Belanger, discussed closing York.

The panel determined that closing York from First to Second streets would cost too much, with a one-time closure amounting to more than $30,000.

The committee also said staff polled many businesses and found no business favored a shutdown unless it was tied to a particular activity.

Some businesses opposed any closure, saying it would affect their customer base.

Alderman Michael Bram said Elmhurst must try new ways to bring people downtown, contending the city was "missing the boat."

"We need to get out of our same status quo every year," he said. "It's easy to just set us on autopilot."

He said the city could conduct a pilot, closing the street monthly for four months. Just the novelty of a shutdown, he said, would bring people.

"We need to be leaders instead of just falling into the same thing every year," Bram said.

Alderman Dan Virgil doubted the $30,000 cost, saying it seemed high compared to what other towns are already doing regularly.

He suggested much could happen with the closed street, including farmers markets, cornhole games, performances, cultural events.

"I feel like we missed an opportunity here," Virgil said.

Another alderman, Rex Irby, said he went to 20 establishments and found only one opposed a closure. Most said they had no idea a shutdown had been up for discussion, he said.

Alderman Belanger, a committee member, said he liked the idea of a closure.

"I would love to see it happen, but the data told me that we are not ready to do it yet," he said.

Alderman Brennan, another committee member, said he would guarantee that businesses drove the street shutdowns in towns such as Arlington Heights.

"If the businesses don't have an interest here, I don't know how this can be successful," he said.

He told the council that it's not necessarily "no forever."

The council voted 9-4 for the committee's recommendation against regular closures. The dissenters were Bram, Virgil, Irby and Jacob Hill. Alderwoman Noel Talluto was absent.

During the committee's discussions, the city analyzed other suburbs' summer street closures.