Residents press Villa Park for enforcement as Hawthorne development stalls

Multiple residents urged Villa Park officials on May 2 to take more aggressive steps to clean up the stalled Hawthorne development, which neighbors say has left a persistent pile of rubble and created health and blight concerns.

"You still got a pile of rubble that somebody screwed up badly," one resident said, calling for enforcement and tougher fines. Other attendees said the site’s condition discourages investment and asked why fines previously levied had not led to cleanup.

Staff told residents the village has issued code-enforcement letters and fines to property owners and is engaging attorneys to negotiate a redevelopment agreement (RDA) before any zoning action or board approval. Chair (speaker 1) cautioned that the village’s legal options are limited on private property unless an ordinance or code violation is demonstrated.

Residents sought clarity on whether the developer has secured financing; staff said the ball is "in their court" and that the village is asking the developer to prove financing before the village will approve movement on the project. "Right now, we don’t have those guarantees from this developer," the Chair said.

Several residents suggested the village could pass an ordinance to require property maintenance or force corrective action; staff and legal representatives said the village is pursuing code-enforcement remedies and that further options involve legal risk and negotiation, which can be time-consuming.

What’s next: staff said attorneys and staff will continue negotiations and review enforcement mechanisms. Residents were told the village is actively pursuing the most appropriate legal path to compel cleanup while protecting the village’s legal position.