Clarendon Hills Reaches Compromise on Downtown Upgrades

Village trustees back off plaza proposal, opt for bollards and hardscape improvements instead.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 1:38pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of an empty downtown street in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, with a lone traffic barrier or bollard in the foreground, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, capturing the quiet, functional nature of the compromise upgrades.The compromise on downtown upgrades in Clarendon Hills will bring a more subtle, functional approach to improving the area for events and pedestrians.Clarendon Hills Today

Clarendon Hills, Illinois trustees have reached a compromise on downtown improvements, deciding to add retractable bollards and other hardscape upgrades instead of a previously proposed plaza. The village had faced months of resident protests over the plaza idea, which critics said would cause traffic problems. Now, the village plans to spend nearly $1.2 million in the first year on the new downtown improvements, funded through the downtown's special tax district.

Why it matters

This compromise highlights the challenges municipalities face in balancing the needs and concerns of residents with plans for downtown revitalization. While the village wanted to create a more event-friendly public space, the community pushback led them to pivot to a less disruptive solution that still aims to improve the downtown area.

The details

Under the new proposal, the village will spend nearly $1.2 million in the first year on adding retractable bollards and other hardscape upgrades like pavers to the downtown area. This construction is set for the fall. The village had previously backed a plan to replace a traffic triangle on Prospect Avenue with a plaza designed for public events, but faced months of resident protests that the plaza would cause traffic problems downtown.

  • The village trustees backed off the plaza proposal last month.
  • The new downtown improvement plan was presented at the Village Board meeting on Monday.

The players

Clarendon Hills Trustees

The elected officials overseeing the village's downtown improvement plans.

Angie Sartori

A resident who criticized the plaza proposal, saying that even temporary closures with bollards pose similar risks as a permanent closure.

Greg Jordan

A former village trustee who questioned spending millions on downtown improvements when other village needs, like utility upgrades in the Blackhawk Heights subdivision, also require attention.

Eric Tech

The Clarendon Hills Village President, who said the downtown improvements are a priority but that the money from the downtown tax district cannot be used for projects elsewhere in the village.

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What they’re saying

“This is a compromise.”

— Trustee John Weicher, Clarendon Hills Trustee

“While closure with bollards just for short events could be a viable solution, any extended or 'seasonal' closure of the lane with bollards and 'hardscape' poses the same risks as a permanent closure, and has not been thoroughly tested.”

— Angie Sartori, Clarendon Hills Resident

“Blackhawk is a greater village priority than downtown. But the money comes from different buckets.”

— Eric Tech, Clarendon Hills Village President

What’s next

The village plans to begin construction on the downtown improvements, including the bollards and hardscape upgrades, in the fall of this year.

The takeaway

This compromise demonstrates the delicate balance municipalities must strike between revitalizing their downtowns and addressing the concerns of residents. While the village wanted to create a more event-friendly public space, the community pushback led them to pivot to a less disruptive solution that still aims to improve the downtown area.