Elmwood Park to rewrite vacant property rules

• Reprints

Updated: February 27, 2012 8:15AM

Vacant homes are now a common sight in almost every community, but Elmwood Park wants to make sure those that are in the village are managed properly.

At Jan. 17 village board meeting Elmwood Park Village Manager John “Jay” Dalicandro announced he is drafting a vacant building ordinance for the village.

He said Cook County has already passed a vacant property ordinance and the village has the choice of being a part of it. Dalicandro said he’s looked at the county’s ordinance and has also looked at Oak Park’s ordinance, hoping to draw upon both to develop an ordinance to fit Elmwood Park’s needs and other communities.

“We’re trying to create an ordinance municipalities can use as a boiler-plate,” he said.

One of the hurdles to developing an effective vacant property is determining the responsible party.

“It could be the mortgage company or a bank. Oak Park is a little more broad in identifying the owner or the previous owner,” he said.

Dalicandro said once developed, the village’s ordinance would make sure those responsible for a vacant property be held accountable to take care of it. He said there are about 120 vacant properties in the village that he is aware of.

He said the ordinance, which he plans to introduce to the board for ratification in March, would make sure that a vacant home or business doesn’t turn into an eyesore over time.

“If there is a vacant building out there we can track it,” he said. “We want to have it ready for sale. If the building is vacant, we want it on the market. We want the snow plowed and the grass cut.”

If passed, the ordinance would also exclude the windows of vacant properties from being boarded up.

Elmwood Park Mayor Peter Silvestri said they’re seeking what’s best for the community and boarded-up windows on a vacant property is not what’s best.

“Boarding up windows has a detrimental effect on adjacent properties,” Silvestri said.

“I think that the goal of the vacant properties ordinance is important,” he said. “We’re looking to do what’s best to deter some type of deterioration on those properties.”