Long-Vacant Hinsdale Building May Get Business

HINSDALE, IL – A business on Hinsdale's Ogden Avenue may move a couple of blocks, filling a long-vacant building.

Normandy Remodeling, now at 440 E. Ogden Ave., is poised to relocate to the one-story former medical office building at 222 E. Ogden.

In early 2021, the Village Board rejected Chicago-based Lakeside Bank's request for a drive-thru and the addition of a second floor.

Village officials said they would only approve a special use permit for a business that brings in sales tax income for the village.

At Tuesday's Village Board meeting, trustees heard about the plan for Normandy to move into 222 E. Ogden. It plans a rear addition and more landscaping, among other things.

The company needs the board's approval for its exterior appearance and site plan.

Village trustees voiced no objections to the plan, even though Normandy would not bring in sales tax money. Unlike with Lakeside Bank, no special use permit is needed for Normandy.

"I wish it would be sold to someone where we would get sales tax revenue," Village President Tom Cauley said. "You are vacating a property on Ogden Avenue. Maybe we'll get something there with sales tax revenue. We'll hold out hope for that."

Village officials asked whether Normandy would repave the parking lot.

Dave Mitchell, Normandy's director of architecture, said it was something his company would like to do.

"It's a budgetary issue. We need to see where we are at," Mitchell said. "Our goal is to be in there by the end of next year, so we have a lot of work to do between now and then."

Cauley said he resisted imposing a condition requiring a new parking lot.

"We would like to see it redone," he said. "In situations like this, I always think that this is your business. You want your customers to come here. You want them to be attracted to this location."

Cauley also said he believed landscaping was needed. Mitchell agreed.

"It's in bad shape out there," Mitchell said. "It hasn't been maintained in any fashion."

The board made no decisions on the project. It may vote on the project June 14.