A Way To Help Elmhurst's No-Sidewalk Areas

ELMHURST, IL – Some Elmhurst aldermen want a requirement that homebuilders install sidewalks in front of new homes where there are none.

They say the idea is to slowly fill gaps in the city's sidewalk network.

But a City Council committee thinks it would be better to charge a fee to the builders of homes in areas without sidewalks.

The money would be placed into an account earmarked for sidewalks. That way, the committee says, the money could go to priority areas.

Now, the city is considering building sidewalks in some places on just one side of the street. If the city requires builders to install sidewalks in areas without them, they may end up installing them on the side where no sidewalk will be built.

Most Elmhurst neighborhoods have sidewalks, but the city's northeast corner is a big exception. In that area, the city hopes to build sidewalks on one side of Crestview Avenue and Indiana and Van Auken streets, which are considered important for students walking to school.

The 700 block of North Van Auken Street is an example of a northeast Elmhurst neighborhood without sidewalks. (David Giuliani/Patch)

The city estimates that 2,200 of about 16,000 homes citywide are without sidewalks. Over the last five years, 10 homes a year have been built in areas without sidewalks, the city said.

On Monday, members of the city's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee discussed how they would like to see the sidewalk money handled.

Alderwoman Tina Park said she wanted the city to develop a priority list for sidewalks. Then, when the city builds up enough money in the account, it should go to the list and launch a sidewalk project, without a City Council vote.

Without a trigger, she said she feared no action would be taken.

"I want the city to be ready and have stuff queued up," Park said.

Alderwoman Marti Deuter said she wanted a priority list, but said the city should follow its usual procedure for projects, including the council's approval of bids.

"I'm not at all concerned that these dollars won't be spent," Deuter said. "There's a high degree of attention on this."

The committee members agreed to vote on their proposal at a later meeting. Then the matter would go to the full council.

Last year, four aldermen – Emily Bastedo, Brian Cahill, Jacob Hill and Chris Jensen – proposed requiring homebuilders to install sidewalks in areas without them.