Elmhurst Cops Order Closure Of Part Of Parking Deck

ELMHURST, IL – A sign was recently posted announcing the closure of the top level of Elmhurst's parking deck at 149 N. Addison Ave.

The sign says it was on the order of Elmhurst police. The city has not indicated how long the closure will last.

In response to a Patch inquiry, city spokeswoman Kassondra Schref said in an email, "The City Manager directed staff to close the top level of the deck for various reasons, including the low demand for parking on this level in conjunction with police reports involving youth vandalism and disruptive behavior."

During the summer, the police have regularly reported crimes in the seven-level parking deck, often on the top level.

The incidents have included graffiti, damage to extinguisher boxes, illegal activation of fire alarms and broken windows on cars.

Elmhurst is not alone. La Grange often reports problems in its downtown parking deck.

Elmhurst completed the Addison deck in January 2016.

In a statement at the time, City Manager Jim Grabowski said, "The highly anticipated opening of the Addison Street Parking Deck is now here. We are confident that the new 690 parking spaces available to Elmhurst patrons will provide a necessary service to the downtown area."

The pandemic likely reduced demand for some spaces.

Also, a nearby business owner has complained that customers at the Fitness Formula Clubs center, 140 N. Addison Ave., use on-street parking rather than the parking deck, hurting neighboring shops.

Resident James Colbert, who often comments on Patch, posted a photo of the new sign about the top level.

"When they built this parking deck, they forced 2 additional levels on the taxpayers unnecessarily," Colbert said in an email to Patch on Wednesday. "Installing solar panels on this level would eventually give taxpayers some Return on Investment."