Contending it is too late to change direction, the City Council approved a state plan to widen Illinois Highway 64, meaning the loss of some parking and the shrinking of sidewalks.
With a 9-5 vote Monday, the council dismissed protests by a coalition of downtown interests led by the Friends of Downtown merchants organization.
“Main Street is crumbling,” said Mayor Fred Norris. “We’ve been working with the state on this for six years, and we can’t afford to put it off any longer.”
The Illinois Department of Transportation plans to spend about $6.1 million beginning in 1996 to rebuild Illinois 64-known as North Avenue in Cook and Du Page Counties-from 7th Avenue east of the Fox River to 14th Street on the west side.
The plan would shrink sidewalks along Main Street east of the river and eliminate 28 on-street parking spaces mainly on the north side west of the river.
Renee Hanlon, executive director of the Friends of Downtown, said the loss of any sidewalks and parking is unacceptable to residents, businesses and patrons of downtown. A standing-room-only audience packed council chambers Monday to lobby city officials against the plan.
“(Council members) haven’t heard the last from us,” Hanlon said, suggesting that the organization would lobby legislators from the area in an attempt to kill or modify the Illinois 64 project.
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“The city underestimates the power the Friends of Downtown has in this issue,” she said. “We’ve rallied the troops on this, and we’re confident we’re doing the right thing.”