A Trouble Spot In Downtown Elmhurst: Group Leader

ELMHURST, IL — With two condo buildings completed, North Addison Avenue in downtown Elmhurst has seen increasing traffic problems, a condo association leader says.

Mary Ellen Reeves, president of the Market Square Condo Association, told the City Council on Monday about what her group saw as traffic issues.

"At a meeting, the council talked about safety when adding so many more residents and cars to the area. At the time, we were told that a traffic study was going to be conducted," Reeves said. "We have recently been told that the traffic study was delayed due to COVID."

Market Square is at 210 N. Addison, while the two new condo buildings are One95 Elmhurst, 195 N. Addison, and The Flynn (Lennar), 183 N. Addison.

Reeves said a nearby landscaping wall has been damaged twice within the last three months.

"Thankfully, no one was walking along the street and no one was sitting on the bench," she said.

With the new residents, Addison is seeing many more delivery trucks, often parked next to the exit of Market Square.

"It's hard to see around the truck, causing people to swerve and stop quickly, so deliveries are definitely an issue," Reeves said. "The problem is, if there is no parking there, they double-park. That is definitely an issue. Double-parking is common every day."

She said she would like to be part of the solution.

"Why not make the alley behind (The Flynn) and One95 a one-way, a posted one-way where you don't have to worry about cars going two ways through a very narrow alley?" Reeves said.

She also suggested a sound for when cars are approaching a stop sign, similar to those in a parking garage. Another recommendation, she said, was the posting of "No U-turn" signs on Addison.

"I know we can't put speed bumps down Addison," Reeves said. "On many days, it's like the Indianapolis 500 because people want to get across the tracks, and they see it's open. If I go faster and I don't fully stop at the stop sign, I'll make it across the tracks. It's very much a hazard for anyone walking there."

The council did not respond to Reeves' comments.