Will Elmhurst Shrink Outdoor Dining?

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst officials are debating whether to scale back outdoor dining downtown.

At issue are the parking spaces used for dining, which was allowed during the pandemic. In city jargon, these spots are known as "parklets."

The city staff recommended the continuation of parklets. But the City Centre, which represents downtown businesses, opposed the idea.

On Monday, a standing committee made up of three aldermen discussed the issue, with the mayor and four other aldermen present.

The aldermen noted they have been talking behind the scenes about whether to continue parklets.

By the city's numbers, eight restaurants used 23 parking spaces last year for parklets. That makes up about 1.5 percent of about 1,500 parking spots downtown.

Committee members Dannee Polomsky and Mark Mulliner had reservations about allowing parklets.

Polomsky said allowing parklets created an equity issue. The loss of parking spaces, she said, hurts retailers and service businesses that want their customers to be able to park close by.

Both Polomsky and Mulliner said only one or two restaurants were interested in spending the $2,500 for the parklets next year.

The other committee member, Emily Bastedo, warned the city would take a step back if it ended its parklet program. Such outdoor dining is popular with the public and brings out-of-towners into Elmhurst's downtown.

"It would be a shame to shrink outdoor dining when other towns are increasing it," said Bastedo, who was connected remotely to the meeting because she was traveling for work.

She disagreed with the equity argument. Following that logic, she said, Elmhurst can only help businesses if it provides the same assistance to every single one.

Mayor Scott Levin also took exception to the equity argument. He noted the city already allows restaurants to use sidewalk space for outdoor dining.

"We're giving up sidewalks for restaurants," the mayor said. "Does that mean if you have a clothing store, you can put your wares out any day you want? There are inequities there anyway."

At the same time, Levin said it may not be worth having parklets if only one or two restaurants were interested.

However, City Centre representatives said as many as 10 restaurants were interested.

Bastedo said she was glad City Centre set the record straight.

"I thought that was completely a misrepresentation that there was one or two," she said.

Three aldermen present, Marti Deuter, Jacob Hill and James Nudera, did not stake out firm positions on parklets.

Alderwoman Jennifer Veremis, who has a business downtown, sounded opposed to the idea, though she said she supported parklets during the pandemic.

"The parklets are not utilized enough to justify taking up 23 parking spots on the street," Veremis said.

At the end of the debate, Mulliner said it appeared the meeting had "muddied the water" on parklets. He said he was hoping to get closer to a solution, but the city seemed further away.

Polomsky agreed.

"It's not something that we have a consensus to move forward on," she said.

In September, the committee debated closing York Street for outdoor dining. That meeting also attracted a number of other aldermen. Most opposed the idea.