La Grange Condo Owners To See Parking Disappear; Village Help Sought

LA GRANGE, IL – Residents in La Grange's condos keep saying they need more parking.

In one case, a condo complex is prepared to see 31 spots disappear.

The decades-old Villa Venice Condominiums are at Plainfield Road and Eighth Avenue.

They contain 192 units, with the residents making up about 1 percent to 2 percent of the village's population.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Marie Penna, the condo board's president, pleaded for help from officials.

She said Cook County plans to take away 31 spots along Plainfield Road as part of a project.

For 2½ decades, the condo board was told the land was theirs, she said. But in 2015, Cook County informed the board that it actually owned the property.

"We have maintained this land for decades, took care of the potholes and everything else," Penna said.

Since 2015, the condo board has leased the land.

Penna suggested that angled parking could be made available on Eighth Avenue.

"We could pay for that," she said. "If that's something you are saying we cannot do, at least I would like 31 overnight parking decals."

She asked the village to contact Cook County on behalf of the condo board, which Village President Mark Kuchler said he could do.

"I'll email the county to try to get the ball rolling," he said.

Trustee Beth Augustine said the village could look at ways to help the condo owners, noting the angled parking idea.

Trustee Steve Palmer said he got the message.

"A net loss of parking anywhere in town is something I'm very much against," Palmer said. "I would like to help you with that."

He also mentioned that La Grange resident Elyse Hoffenberg is becoming the area's new Cook County Board member. She prevailed in last week's election.

"Make sure it's on her radar when she comes to office," he said.