Clarendon Hills Fire Station May Move

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Clarendon Hills is looking to build a new fire station, in part, because public buildings downtown may deter commercial development, an official said this week.

The village has identified the site of the police station and public works department in the 400 block of Park Avenue as a possible place for the new fire station, according to a memo by Village Manager Zach Creer.

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The site's impound lot could be used for the new fire station because a third party now handles impounded cars, Creer said.

Moving the fire department, Creer said, could spur downtown development.

He also said a campus for the three departments could allow them to share rooms for reception, workouts, conferences and training.

To make the project a reality, Creer said the sale of the current fire station's land alone may be enough to offset the cost of the new building. The village also could use money from the downtown tax district to pay for moving costs, he said.

"A mixed-used development at this site could be reasonably expected to generate millions in revenue through tax increment, and other Village revenues," Creer said.

On Monday, the Village Board is expected to vote on hiring FGM Architects for $7,500 to do a "feasibility" study on building a new fire station.