More Elmhurst Sidewalks? Another Idea Pushed

ELMHURST, IL – For months, Elmhurst officials have pondered requiring property owners to install sidewalks where none exist in front of newly built homes.

The problem, though, is that such a policy may result in "sidewalks to nowhere" that do not link to any network.

So officials have a new idea: Requiring owners of new homes to pay into a city account in lieu of installing sidewalks. That money would then pay for sidewalks where they are considered most needed, including higher-volume streets and school routes.

During a City Council committee meeting Monday, Elmhurst Ward 1 Alderwoman Marti Deuter said she liked the idea.

"We can take our resources and try to have them support strategic projects. That yields more benefit to the community than a patch in front of a house," Deuter said. "It gives us an opportunity to create more sidewalks."

Ward 5 Alderwoman Tina Park said she liked the idea of requiring sidewalks in front of new homes. But she said if a fee is charged instead, it should apply to all newly built homes, whether they are in areas with sidewalks or not.

"Any new construction would have some fee for new infrastructure, so it would be absorbed by people all over the city," Park said. "The sidewalk serves more than the person who lives in the house and those on the street. Why should the fee be just for those without sidewalks?"

Ward 3 Alderman Michael Bram said he has always believed that the city should pay for all sidewalks.

"We should have a master plan to have sidewalks throughout the city," he said. "I would support anything that would encourage sidewalks throughout the city of Elmhurst."

His northeast ward contains the most streets without sidewalks. Younger Ward 3 residents with children typically favor sidewalks, while older ones generally oppose them.

The council committee made no decisions, but pledged to discuss the issue again.