Costs Of Controversial Clarendon Hills Project So Far

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Clarendon Hills on Thursday revealed the costs of engineering so far for a proposed downtown plaza, which is drawing opposition.

The total expenses are now $29,263, according to a village memo. That's less than the $40,000 budgeted for the project this year.

In June, the village paid a $13,587 invoice. A second invoice is $15,676, which puts the engineering spending over the village manager's purchasing authority, the memo said.

The Village Board is set to vote at its meeting Monday on the additional spending for Christopher Burke Engineering. The administration is also seeking authority to spend another $10,000.

The money is coming from the downtown tax increment financing district, or TIF.

Opponents of the plaza project may speak at the board meeting, which is set for 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall.

As of Friday morning, 669 people have signed an online petition calling for stopping the plaza.

Under the plan, the village would do away with the traffic triangle at Prospect and Park avenues and replace it with a plaza that officials say would be a draw for downtown.

Earlier this month, Patch wrote about the Plaza issue.