Clarendon Hills Ranks High In National Survey

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Clarendon Hills recently received a top ranking from a Pittsburgh-based national rating organization.

In his State of the Village address last week, Village President Eric Tech pointed out that Niche.com rated Clarendon Hills as the second-best place to live in Illinois.

Naperville topped the list, while Hinsdale finished third, Western Springs 14th, La Grange 29th and Burr Ridge 60th.

Clarendon Hills ranked 25th out of more than 18,000 towns nationwide, according to Niche.

The village provided notes to Patch from Tech's address.

Tech noted efforts to improve the quality of life in Clarendon Hills. He said the village would revisit the idea of a downtown plaza and that the village wanted to close off the west leg of Prospect Avenue to create a gathering space for events.

Such a plaza would save the local chamber of commerce $15,000 a year in stage costs and allow setup for events without shutting down downtown, Tech said.

The village also revived its downtown facade improvement program, increasing the public matching amount to $15,000, he said.

Additionally, the village is looking to attract mixed-use developments downtown that include multifamily housing. Such efforts, Tech said, would help support local shops and restaurants.

Here's other information that Tech gave in his address:

• The village's finances have a triple-AAA rating, which only 18 Illinois towns have. Clarendon Hills had a $1.4 million fund balance last year.
• Clarendon Hills approved a special tax district along 55th Street. The resulting money is expected to pay for improved water infrastructure and pedestrian and intersection upgrades.
• Tech acknowledged water rates are high, saying the village has improvements to complete. A project for Blackhawk Heights is estimated to cost $6 million.
• The fire department is a work in progress. The department is recruiting and bolstering training. It also aims to have five members on duty at all times.