Café Seeks $622K From Clarendon Hills

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Sparrow Coffee is seeking a $622,000 subsidy from the Clarendon Hills village government.

The business, which has locations in Chicago and Naperville, plans to occupy the entire building at 100 Park Ave. That was where Little Creperie was before it moved across the street.

The money would go toward improvements to the building. It would come from a tax increment financing district, or TIF, where growth in property tax income is re-invested in the district.

An area east of the Park Avenue building is part public and private property, according to a village memo.

"Sparrow is proposing, via a licensing agreement, to clean up and substantially improve this area," Ed Cage, the village's community development director, said in the memo.

According to the memo, the village has a five-year return-on-investment payback policy. That is expected to be met with the Sparrow Coffee project, the village said.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, trustees plan to vote on an agreement with Sparrow Coffee.

Also at the meeting, the board is set to vote on a $10,643 subsidy to Just Lift Fitness, 200 Park Ave.

The money will cover half the costs of the fire alarm, plumbing and electrical work.

Village officials say the downtown tax district has been a success, reducing vacancies and stimulating the local economy.