This Area Is Elmhurst's 'Forgotten Stepchild': Resident

Elmhurst IL

04 August, 2021

9:15 AM

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ELMHURST, IL — An Elmhurst resident on Monday spoke out in favor of northside aldermen's effort to move forward with improvements to North York Street. The four aldermen are asking the city to look for money to pay for long-sought streetcaping to North York from North to Crestview avenues. That section of North York is part of a tax increment financing district, or TIF. "I'm in total agreement with the streetscape plan as suggested for the TIF area," resident Ruth Maple said at Monday's City Council meeting. "Some say this area has been the forgotten stepchild, and I would be in agreement with that." Maple, who lives on nearby Elm Avenue, also suggested traffic lights for Fremont Avenue on both sides of the fire station on North York. East and West Fremont connect to York a block away from each other. Among other reasons for lights, Maple said drivers on West Fremont coming onto York have no knowledge of the status of the traffic signal in front of the fire station. That light turns red when fire trucks are leaving. "Sometimes I've seen almost accidents happen," she said. Drivers on West Fremont turning right onto York are halfway on the thoroughfare when they realize a fire truck or ambulance is leaving, she said. "They're startled, and they slam on their brakes," Maple said. "My thoughts and suggestions are to make Elmhurst a safer and better area for those here and for those residents yet to settle here. Elmhurst is a great town. That's why I have stayed here since 1980 and raised my family. I want to stay as long as I possibly can." Later in the council meeting, aldermen voted to send a proposal on streetscape improvements for North York to one of its committees for a closer examination. The four northside aldermen pushing for improvements are Ward 2's Bob Dunn and Jacob Hill and Ward 3's Dannee Polomsky and Chris Jensen. "An enhanced streetscape may help attract businesses to North York, raising the aesthetic standard to be closer to that of City Centre," they said in a memo.