More commuter parking spots coming to downtown Lombard

Work is underway in downtown Lombard to add 92 spaces to the Hammerschmidt parking lot along St. Charles Road near Main Street.

"It will be a nice addition to our downtown," Bill Heniff, the village's director of community development, said. "It will provide benefits to commuters, businesses and residents."

The village acquired much of the property, where Hammerschmidt Brick & Tile Company once stood, in 2008 for about $750,000. Last year, it purchased another, smaller portion on the far west end of the lot that will help create the larger lot. When construction is complete, the lot will have a total of 208 spaces.

Heniff said most of the commuter parking spaces around the downtown area fill up daily and the village has received many requests in the past for additional parking.

Construction on the expansion is being completed by Kee Construction for $885,000. Village staff, however, took down a vacant garage on the property and did some of the engineering in-house, to save money.

"We're minimizing costs wherever we can by doing work with our own staff," said David Gorman, assistant director of public works.

Aside from expanding the parking area, the project includes the addition of a new entrance to the lot and some environmental improvements, including permeable concrete pavers, native landscaping and LED lights.

"I am very excited about using permeable pavers as a stormwater benefit. It cleans the stormwater runoff before it runs off the site," Gorman said.

In addition, Gorman said the plans for native landscaping will be "just beautiful, with the flowers and the variety of insects and birds. I think most residents will appreciate it."

"We think it's going to be a very attractive parking lot," he said.

Most of the work is expected to be done by October and finishing touches will be complete in November. Sidewalks along the south side of St. Charles Road will be closed for the entire length of the project. A pedestrian detour has been set up on the north side of the street.

For information or to sign up for updates on the project, visit www.villageoflombard.org/HammerschmidtExpansion.