Elmhurst City Hall May Move In 2 Years: Official

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst City Hall may move to a new location within the next couple of years, so it would be unwise to make a major investment in landscaping there, an official said this week.

The possibility of moving City Hall, 209 N. York St., within the next couple of years was apparently not widely known. The building is 29 years old.

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, Alderwoman Noel Talluto suggested that the $90,000 that was proposed for landscaping at City Hall would be better spent for landscaping along First Street, next to the railroad tracks downtown.

"City Hall might not be here in a couple of years if we pursue some real estate ideas," Talluto told her colleagues. "I would recommend using the dollars for the benefit of city residents at large that spend any time along (First Street) vs. putting it in here and potentially having things change with this particular location in the next couple of years."

The council later unanimously voted to shift the money to First Street.

In an interview Wednesday, Talluto said her comments were focused on the landscaping along First Street, which she said should be a greater priority than landscaping at City Hall.

She said it was the City Council's responsibility to always seek the highest and best use of any property. As a government building, City Hall generates no sales or property taxes for public entities.

As for City Hall moving, Talluto said, "There is nothing particular in the works. There is no grand conspiracy."

In an interview Tuesday, Mayor Scott Levin said that as far as City Hall moving, "nothing is in the works right now." He said the city would entertain opportunities and consider options, but said moving City Hall to another location would be five or 10 years down the road.

"We don't have any property to move to," Levin said.

He said that if City Hall moved, he would prefer a central location like the current one.

Asked whether the building had any deficiencies for the city's purposes, Levin said he hadn't heard of any.

"The building suits our functions right now," he said.

In a 2003 story about City Hall, the Chicago Tribune stated it cost $5.3 to construct the building, which opened in 1992. If the cost of the building had risen with inflation over the last 29 years, its worth would have nearly doubled, to $10.4 million.

According to the city's website, City Hall moved to the Glos Mansion in 1946, then to 119 Schiller St. in 1970.

The prospect of moving City Hall comes at a time when the city is looking for ways to cover its debt for stormwater projects.