In the wake of criticism from community members, Elmwood Park’s Village Board is defending its process toward turning a vacant lot into a parking lot.
Angelo “Skip” Saviano, village president, said at the April 6 meeting that nothing has been set in stone regarding the vacant lot at 1612 N. 74th Court. There has been discussion of the lot being turned into a parking lot; many residents on the 1600 block of 74th Court are opposed to it and voiced their displeasure at the March 16 Village Board meeting.
Saviano said at the start of the meeting that although he was not present at the March 16 board meeting, a decision has not been made. Residents in that area claim that there was no outreach to residents on behalf of the village.
“I wasn’t at the last meeting, but we got a little ahead of ourselves,” he said.
He said he has talked to the residents of the block and a letter was sent out to residents about the process the village goes through in regards to acquiring land and what will eventually happen to it.
Fred Norden, who lives across the street of the vacant lot at 1629 N. 74th Court, once again expressed his displeasure with the possibility of the lot becoming a parking lot during the public comment portion of the meeting. He believes that if residents had not spoken out, it would have become a parking lot.
He believes the village has failed to communicate with the residents about the empty lot, although village officials say that residents in the area were notified.
“We feel we’ve been misled,” Norden said. “We deserve better.”
Members of the board stressed that they’ve been looking at ways to alleviate parking congestion along North Avenue and providing more parking has been looked at as an option. The village has been looking to purchase a home at 2306 N. 73rd Court as well.
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Saviano said what will happen to the lot will be an open process, and residents will have the opportunity to express themselves at board meetings and economic development meetings. He said a final decision on the fate of the decision will probably made in about 60 days.
Norden and other residents believe it’s just window dressing, and the village had made up its mind a long time ago. Saviano said he’s canvassed the 1600 block of 74th Court and said that 90 percent of the residents are in favor of a parking lot there.
Saviano added that everyone has and will be able to voice their concerns in regards to the lot.
“I’m truly somewhat dismayed that someone says they’re not getting their say and we’re not working in the best interest of the residents,” he said. “We are not here to hurt anybody. We’re here to work together.”
The next Elmwood Park Village Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 20.