Code Problems On Clarendon Hills Property: Village

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – The property where a Dunkin' Donuts had been planned is still in violation of Clarendon Hills codes, according to the village.

It is the site of the old Tracy's Tavern at the southwest corner of 55th Street and Western Avenue.

Last fall, the village inspected the property and listed a number of violations. It requested the site be cleared by this spring.

According to village documents, David Godek, the village's code enforcement officer, recently said a village official emailed the property owner in early March about what was agreed upon between the village and the owner. Godek said the owner was given ample time to line up contractors for the project.

Godek said in the documents that he was unaware of any demolition permits.

In a March 24 report, Jonathan Mendel, the village's community development director, said the village followed up on the violations recently and an updated notice on compliance was sent. Mendel's last day with the village was Friday; he took a similar job in another suburb.

The owner, Dan Aleksic, couldn't be reached for comment.

In September, the village informed Aleksic in a letter that it conducted a "comprehensive" exterior inspection of the property and found code violations.

"Would you be better suited to demolish all three structures versus spending a lot of money trying to bring those structures back up to code as you move forward with the development of this site?" Godek asked the owner.

The violations, Godek said, show years of neglect and deterioration of the buildings and parking lot.

"This has become an attractive nuisance and a general blight to the neighborhood that we need to get corrected," Godek said.

A Patch story in September listed the village's issues with the property.

Last year, Hinsdale-based developer KrohVan asked the village for permission for a drive-thru for a planned Dunkin' Donuts on the property.

After the Village Board rejected the request, the developer abandoned the project.