Vacant Buildings 'Blight' on Area, Demolition OK'd

The Village of Clarendon Hills has gotten permission to demolish three vacant Burlington Avenue buildings near downtown Clarendon Hills, director of community development Dan Ungerleider said at Monday’s Village Board meeting.

A DuPage judge has ruled the village has the right to tear down the buildings at 227-231 Burlington, which have become an “attractive nuisance” for vandals, according to village manager Randy Recklaus, and overall unsafe places.

“That thing has to come down,” Recklaus said of the stretch of buildings.

Ungerleider, who referred to the buildings as a “blight on that area,” said the village is currently working with its engineering firm on getting an asbestos report while planning and reviewing bids for the potential demolition. All costs incurred by the village would be placed into a lien on the property, Ungerleider said, “with the hopes we’ll be paid back when the property is sold for redevelopment.”

The community development director said the demolition might be split into parts and might only do the minimum amount necessary to keep away trouble.

“We might only remove the buildings and leave the foundation, depending on the costs and also depending on risks we would be taking dealing with environmental issues,” Ungerleider said, referring to issues like contaminated soil that could be beneath the buildings.

He said the property owners are motivated to sell the property and met with village officials regularly last week. The owners, Ungerleider said, have said they want to take over the demolition process, but village officials don’t want to wait long.

“If they can show evidence that they’ll take care of it in a timely fashion, I’ll certainly work with them to pass that on,” Ungerleider said. “Until then we’re going to follow the court order and proceed.”

Have you noticed these buildings before? What types of businesses should replace them? Tell us in the comments!

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