City Centre Cancels ‘Rock the Block’ – What Do You Think?

by Dave Noble, City News Editor

ELMHURST – Citing safety concerns and logistical issues, City Centre announced last week that ‘Rock the Block’ is cancelled for the second year in a row.  We asked Elmhurst residents:  What do you think?

“This was a tough but safe decision. It would have been really difficult to tell who is from Elmhurst and who isn’t if everyone is wearing a mask.” – Mike Cooper, N. Van Auken St.

“Darn it. Now I have to wait until next year to hear ‘Don’t Stop Believin’.” – Joe Munson, West Ave.

“If they’re going to cancel Rock the Block because of COVID then they should cancel Cool Cars Under the Stars as well.” – Nancy Harder, The Marke

“Couldn’t they have just asked the bands to turn down the music a little?” – Gene Walker, S. Poplar Ave.

“I thought last year’s cancellation announcement was a lot better.” – Simon Marshall, N. Elm Ave.

“It was an unfair advantage for all of the businesses on York to have people using their restroom.” – Alice Hanger, E. Park Ave.

Elmhurst Changes Course on New Metra Station in Response to Resident Complaints

The new Metra station was designed by members of the Elmhurst Model Railroad Club.

by Dave Noble, City News Editor

ELMHURST – Responding to overwhelming criticism from residents over its “futuristic” design, estimated cost, and lack of connectivity to the town’s past, the City of Elmhurst this week discarded an already-approved plan for a new Metra station concept in favor of a more “historic” looking and less expensive train depot. 

Expected to be approved unanimously Monday by the Elmhurst City Council, the new 900-square foot wooden structure will cost less than $15,000 and take around 10–11 days to build. Federal grants that would have paid for the majority of costs to construct a much larger station were turned down by the City in favor of the simpler design.   

Residents were thankful the City reacted quickly to complaints and came up with a solution that pleases community members who have to look at it, rather than the nearly 2,000 riders who board at the Elmhurst station each weekday.

“The new design is a much better reflection of what Elmhurst is, or at least what it used to be,” said longtime resident Stu Saberhagen, who hasn’t personally used the train since taking it downtown to see the King Tut exhibit in 1977 but often drives past the Metra station on his way to the underpass. “I don’t want to look at a spaceship every day. It’s a train stop for Christ’s sake. You get on and you get off.”

Despite its simplicity, the new station will have several amenities that the current one lacks. Windows on all four sides of the building will provide cooling in the summer while a wood-burning fireplace will furnish heat in the winter. A large chalkboard mounted inside the station will list departure times for inbound and outbound trains, and urinals in the men’s restroom will be replaced by a trough. 

A proposed floor door and ladder inside of the station to serve as an underground crossing is still being examined for ADA compliance.

Eliminated from the updated design is space for Pilot Pete’s Coffee and Treats, a popular coffee shop that has been located inside the Metra station since 2011. City officials are waiting to hear back from Pete on their offer for him to run the new station’s shoe shining kiosk instead.