Elmhurst Police Station Plan Recommended; Teardown Expected In Winter

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst's proposed police station will be two stories, rather than the three originally talked about, according to a new plan.

The building will include a full basement.

The city plans to demolish the current 35-year-old police station at 125 E. First St., which is considered to be in bad shape.

At a City Council zoning committee meeting Monday, Police Chief Michael McLean said that with two stories, the 54,000-square-foot building will be a rectangle, rather than a square, and extend to First Street.

Under the plan, the free public parking with three-hour limits on the west side of the building will be converted to parking for police vehicles for on-duty officers and detectives.

This is part of the goal to keep detainees away from the public.

Meanwhile, McLean said, the city plans to slightly increase parking on First Street. And he said plenty of parking is always available in the next-door parking deck.

The city plans to keep the plaza on the south part of the property, McLean said.

The city had held sessions with residents on what they would like to see with the new police station.

"This is a good project that needs to be done," Alderman Chris Jensen said at the committee meeting.

The panel unanimously approved the police station plan. It goes next to the full City Council.

The police station's demolition is expected to start next winter, with the groundbreaking set for early next year, according to the city. Construction is slated to last about 20 months.

The demolition and rebuilding of the police station is expected to cost $48 million.