No-Bid Clarendon Hills $3.2M Downtown Project Recommended

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Clarendon Hills officials are recommending a no-bid contract for a $3.2 million downtown project.

On Monday, the Village Board is expected to decide on whether to approve Rosemont-based Christopher Burke Engineering for the work.

According to a half-page July 9 village memo, Burke has solicited pricing and reviewed the qualifications of subcontractors for the project.

In April, the board expressed interest in installing removable bollards around the Kenneth Sloan Triangle and a special lane from Prospect to Park avenues.

This would let the village close the traffic triangle to create a "flexible gathering space," according to the village.

Previously, officials wanted to replace the triangle with a plaza, which critics said would cause traffic problems downtown.

Village trustees said the plaza would make downtown more inviting and events easier to hold. But they said the bollards would serve as a compromise, allowing the closure of the triangle at certain times.

The $3.2 million is expected to pay for the removable bollards and other "hardscape" upgrades such as pavers to make events more doable, according to the village.

In April, village officials said the downtown work was estimated to cost $1.2 million. The memo did not indicate the reason for the increase, such as an increase in the project's scope.

The Village Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Christ Lutheran Church, 60 55th St.