Construction could close Naperville street for 2 years
A half-block section of Van Buren Avenue in Naperville is likely to be closed for nearly two years while North Central College uses the space to help build a new science center.
The college is asking the city council for permission during its meeting at 7 p.m. June 16 to close Van Buren between Loomis Street on the east and an alley between Loomis and Brainard Street on the west.
The closure would begin this month and last until April 2017, when the $60 million science center at the southwest corner of Van Buren and Loomis is expected to be complete, said Paul Loscheider, North Central's vice president for business affairs.
"It's for safety and trying to contain things within the site for the construction," Loscheider said. "It's so we can get deliveries in and have an area to stage those things while the construction is going on."
If the closure gains city council approval, cars will not be able to drive on Van Buren between Loomis and the alley east of Brainard, but people still will be allowed to walk or bike on the sidewalk on the north side. Access also will be retained to a pedestrian walkway that heads south between Loomis and Brainard and to a North Central College parking lot on the south side of Van Buren along the same block.
"By closing off Van Buren to the north, it allows us to get in and out with minimum disruption to the neighbors," Loscheider said.
The college met roughly a month ago with neighbors of the future 125,000-square-foot science center to discuss construction logistics, including the Van Buren closure.
"Residents that were there felt it probably is the best option," said Denise Nigro, who lives across from the future building on Loomis Street. "Because Van Buren isn't a through street, it isn't used that much."
Van Buren dead-ends on the west at Central Park. Its easternmost point is an alley between Columbia and Julian streets.
Those likely to be affected most by the proposed closure are three homeowners on Brainard north of Van Buren who access their garages from the alley where the closure will begin. But Loscheider said those residents still will be able to use the alley.
Nigro said she's not looking forward to the "unpleasant" disruption of construction, but the street closure is not of high concern.
"For most of the people on Loomis, it really isn't a big deal if they close Van Buren," Nigro said. "Based on the traffic flow, it'll be a better idea and benefit us in the long run with the way they'll have the trucks going in and out."
If the closure is approved, the city will post a detour route directing drivers to use Benton Avenue one block north of Van Buren.