Project To Expand Car Lot Could Make Parking Easier If Approved

PLAINFIELD, IL — Driving, shopping and hanging out in Plainfield could get a whole lot easier if the Village Board OKs a proposal to expand a downtown parking lot.

A project to expand the existing North Des Plaines Street parking lot is currently being considered by the Board, and the item was discussed at the Nov. 22 Committee of the Whole meeting.

The village would fund the project's construction, installation of a new storm sewer and resurfacing of the existing parking lot pending approval by the Village and Township boards, according to a memorandum from Interim Village Administrator Traci Pleckham.

In April 2020, a developer contemplated demolishing the parking lot, at 15024 S. Des Plaines St., and redeveloping the site. According to Pleckham, staff are aware of the plan but won't be moving forward with it as discussed last year.

With one option, Allen Persons, Plainfield's public works director, would bring the parking lot to a total of 154 spaces. The second option under review would bring the parking lot's total to 160 spaces — some belonging to the village, some to the township.

"The township would allow the village to utilize the entire property for public parking and not restrict the parking lot in any way, shape or form," Persons said at the meeting, adding it would be in return for the village paying for the project.

The administrator said the cost for design and construction — estimated to be between $470,000 and $485,000 — would be budgeted next year and expected to be complete by the end of 2022.

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