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Burr Ridge trustees approve $24,000 downtown grant for Topaz Cafe and authorize Village Hall parcels to be put up for sale
Summary
At its Aug. 11 meeting the Burr Ridge board approved a $24,000 downtown business district disbursement to Topaz Cafe and voted to authorize soliciting offers for two Village Hall parcels; the sale authorization passed after trustees discussed appraisal value, parcel pins, and public concerns.
The Village of Burr Ridge board approved two of its headline items on Aug. 11: a $24,000 disbursement from the downtown business district to Topaz Cafe and a resolution authorizing staff to solicit proposals to sell two of the three parcels that make up Village Hall.
Mary Bradley urged approval of the water‑main and carriageway contract on the consent agenda and asked the board to "pass it please," saying "every house on my street has had 2 or 3 water main breaks" over the last 25 years. The board then approved the consent agenda by omnibus roll call, which included awarding the 2025 water‑main replacements project to Trine Construction Corp. for $3,355,985 and vendor lists totaling $1,159,775.64 and $659,281.10.
Evan introduced a request from Bronco Palacooka, owner of Topaz Cafe at 780 Village Center Drive, for assistance offsetting roughly $40,000 in mechanical and aesthetic improvements. The Economic Development Committee recommended approving $24,000 with no additional conditions. Trustees and public commenters described how a revised traffic pattern affected customer access. The board moved and approved the $24,000 disbursement by roll call; the motion passed.
The board then considered a resolution to place two of the three Village Hall parcels on the market so the village could solicit proposals. Evan told the board the resolution "only puts it up for sale" and does not execute a sale; he said an MAI appraisal valued the property at $1,800,000 and that state law requires that appraisal. The resolution would allow the village to review proposals based on price, intended use, impact on neighbors and conformity with the T‑1 district, and bring any final sale back for a vote requiring five of seven elected trustees.
Trustees asked detailed questions about parcel boundaries and PINs (including references to PINs 023 and 024), whether parking could be retained with the Village Hall through lot splits or access agreements, and which parcels—excluding the parcel with the Veterans Memorial—would be offered. Trustee Chris said the packet "caught me off guard" and reported an informal survey of 10 residents in which "9 out of the 10 are against having a new village hall," urging more public comment before progressing the project. Staff and trustees replied that the resolution would only authorize solicitation of proposals and that public hearings would follow if the board chose to accept any proposal.
Evan and finance staff presented updated financing scenarios and said the board had budgeted $2,000,000 as a floor for the village hall project; they described funding the project with capital funds, sale proceeds and risk‑fund money so that the general fund would not incur debt or spending. Evan described "risk equity" as third‑party invested reserves that can be used on appropriate projects. After discussion the board moved and approved the resolution to solicit offers for the two parcels; roll call showed a majority in favor and one trustee opposed.
The meeting closed with routine reports and community announcements, including a notice that the Navy Band will perform at Village Greens on Aug. 23 and congratulations to Clarendon Hills Little League for advancing to the Little League World Series. The board adjourned and set its next meeting for Aug. 25, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
