Saylor/Swain/Vallette Stormwater Improvement Project

Status: Completed December 2020

This neighborhood area was first identified in the original 2012 Comprehensive Flooding Plan by Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD. (CBBEL).  Approximately 94 homes were identified as having possible overland flooding with an estimated street flooding depth up to 1.6 feet.  Options for flood reduction in this area involved either creating new large detention basin site(s) in the neighborhood or large-scale infrastructure improvements in combination with increased pumping at Salt Creek.  The large-scale infrastructure option was estimated to cost approximately $13.5 M.  The City also investigated the possibility of new detention in the neighborhood, which could reduce the project cost by almost $5 M, but the fact that this area has no available open space (schools, parks, churches, etc.) between the problem area and Salt Creek meant that residential property buyouts would be needed.

In an effort to further investigate large-scale infrastructure improvements, the City hired CBBEL to complete conceptual engineering analyzes.  Because the infrastructure improvements would require increased pumping along Salt Creek (Creek), City staff and CBBEL staff met with DuPage County stormwater officials multiple times.  Pumping more water into Salt Creek would not be allowed by the County unless mitigation would occur with the project or if the increased pumping would not raise flood elevations downstream on the Creek.  CBBEL completed the County’s requested stormwater modeling and the County reviewed the submitted information.

Additionally, in 2018, CBBEL completed a topographic survey of both McKinley Avenue and Crescent Avenue, between Swain Avenue and Sunnyside Avenue/Rex Boulevard, which would be the likely “route” of any future infrastructure improvements between the problem area and the Creek.  CBBEL staff then reviewed the survey data, defined the best and most cost-effective route, and analyzed the cost estimates. 

City staff and CBBEL staff then presented the findings to the Public Works and Buildings Committee and the City Council in 2018 and 2019.  Because of the excessive cost of the large-scale infrastructure improvements the City began to seriously consider residential property buyouts for neighborhood detention as an alternative.  Over the course of 2019 the City was able to acquire 5 properties in the neighborhood.  The City then hired CBBEL to complete engineering design. 

In 2020 the CBBEL and the City agreed to a Design-Build Construction contract that will facilitate the installation of 7.3 ac-ft of underground detention, along Crescent Avenue and also at 633-645 Swain Avenue, and associated storm piping along Saylor, Crescent, and Swain.  The $4.73 M Design-Build contract will facilitate flood-reduction benefits for the entire neighborhood. 

Construction is expected to start in July of 2020 and be completed by the end of 2020.

Comprehensive Flood Plan - Southwest Infrastructure Improvements Presentation(08.24.15)

Saylor/Swain/Vallette Flooding Area Project Update Presentation (08.12.19)

Saylor/Swain/Vallette Stormwater Improvements Project Updates

S.W. Elmhurst Stormwater Mitigation Project - Phase I

In an effort to further reduce overland flooding in southwest Elmhurst the City purchased land south of Messiah Lutheran Church along Butterfield Road and plans to construct a new detention basin at this location.  With the size of the property the City is able to create a new 17 ac-ft detention basin to reduce overland flooding along the Jackson Street and Spring Road areas.  This new detention, when combined with Phase II project, will provide significant flood reductions benefits for 121 residential properties along Spring Road (between Butterfield and Jackson) and Jackson Street (between Spring and Bryan). Work is scheduled to begin in early July of 2018 and be completed by spring 2019.  Click on link below to view the 100-Year Inundation Area Map.

http://elmhurststormwaterplan.org/DocumentCenter/View/514/Messiah-Lutheran18-Christ11_Exh3

Estimated Construction Start: July 9, 2018
Estimated Construction Completion: Spring 2019
Estimated Construction Cost: $6,020,250.10   

S.W. Elmhurst Stormwater Mitigation Project - Phase I Fact Sheet 
S.W. Elmhurst Stormwater Mitigation Project - Phase I Updates

   

S.W. Elmhurst Stormwater Mitigation Project - Phase II

 
In an effort to further reduce overland flooding in southwest Elmhurst the City purchased the former residential property at 250 W. Jackson Street from Christ United Methodist Church and plans to construct a new detention basin at this location.  With the size of the property the City is able to create a new 11.4 ac-ft detention basin to reduce overland flooding along the Jackson Street and Spring Road areas.  This new detention, when combined with Phase I project, will provide significant flood reductions benefits for 121 residential properties along Spring Road (between Butterfield and Jackson) and Jackson Street (between Spring and Bryan). Work is scheduled to begin in early July of 2018 and be completed by the end of the year.  Click on link below to view the 100-Year Inundation Area Map.

http://elmhurststormwaterplan.org/DocumentCenter/View/514/Messiah-Lutheran18-Christ11_Exh3
  
 
Estimated Construction Start: July 9, 2018
Estimated Construction Completion: December 2018
Estimated Construction Cost: $1,610,715.25

S.W. Elmhurst Stormwater Mitigation Project - Phase II Fact Sheet 
S.W. Elmhurst Stormwater Mitigation Project - Phase II Updates

Harrison Street Stormwater Improvement Project (Yorkfield Subdivision) 
Creating additional flood storage in the existing detention basin located south of Harrison Street, in conjunction with the construction of a relief sewer, would significantly reduce the risk of flooding for homes in Yorkfield Subdivision. The existing detention basin is a dry-bottomed facility with a capacity of approximately 8 acre-feet. During small storm events, a 1-cfs capacity pump station is utilized to drain the detention basin but during more significant storm events when the level of the basin rises, an overflow grate structure drains the basin by gravity to the pipe network to the south.  The goal of this project is to improve the function of the existing drainage system by increasing both the capacity of the existing pipe system and the capacity of the existing detention basin. The proposed project involves the construction of a 36-inch diameter relief sewer from the low spot on Yorkfield Avenue to the Harrison Street detention basin. By replacing portions of the detention basin side slopes with retaining walls and excavating deeper, the storage volume of the facility can be increased by approximately 5 acre-feet. Since the existing detention basin relies on a pump station for dewatering, the deeper excavation will not change the outlet configuration of the facility. These improvements provide a 100-year level of protection for the homes within Yorkfield Subdivision.  

Estimated Construction Start: Fall 2016
Estimated Construction Completion: Summer 2017
Estimated Budget:   $2,394,077

 
Yorkfield Subdivision Fact Sheet
Yorkfield Subdivision Project Updates 
 
Madison Early Childhood Education Center Stormwater Improvement Project

Creating flood storage in the open space area adjacent to the Madison Early Childhood Education Center would significantly reduce the risk of flooding for the Washington Street flood problem area in Southwest Elmhurst. The goal of this project is to provide a location to safely hold stormwater while maintaining the existing recreational uses of the school site.

 

Conceptual facility improvement plans were developed with the intent of creating flood storage while maintaining the existing soccer field in this location. To maximize playability of the fields, stormwater would not be diverted into the site unless the capacity of the existing storm sewer system is exceeded. Less frequent, non-flood causing events would not impact the site, as stormwater would bypass the area.

Estimated Construction Start: Summer 2016
Estimated Construction Completion: Spring 2017
Estimated Budget:  $3,584,950

Madison Early Childhood Education Center Fact Sheet
Madison Early Childhood Education Center Project Updates

Washington Street Stormwater Improvement Project

In an effort to further reduce the level of flooding on Washington Street, the City has purchased and removed 3 houses at 684, 688 and 692 S. Washington Street for the purpose of providing up to 3 acre-feet of stormwater detention. This detention, when combined with the on-going Madison Early Childhood Stormwater Improvement Project, will provide a total of 9.25 acre-feet of stormwater detention and will provide significant flood reductions benefits for residents on Bryan, Washington, and Euclid. The construction of this project will involve the installation of an underground pre-cast concrete vault by StormTrap, LLC. Work began in late March of 2017 and is scheduled to last 3-4 months.    

Estimated Construction Start:  March 2017
Estimated Construction Completion:  Fall 2017
Estimated Budget:   $1,264,330

Washington Street Stormwater Improvement Project Updates

Golden Meadows (Pine/Avon)

Creating flood storage in the open space area of Golden Meadows Park in conjunction with the construction of relief sewers would significantly reduce the risk of flooding for the homes in the Pine Street/Avon Avenue. The goal of this project is to provide a location to safely hold stormwater while maintaining the existing recreational uses of the park.
 
To maximize playability of the fields, stormwater would not be diverted into the park unless the capacity of the existing storm sewer system is exceeded. Less frequent, non-flood causing events would not impact the park, as stormwater would bypass the area. During significant storm events, pipes would divert water away from the flood-prone areas and convey it into Golden Meadows Park. The park is designed to completely fill for the 100-year design storm event; stormwater would be held temporarily at the site and then drain by gravity to the existing storm sewer system. Period of inundation would be less than 24 hours.   

Estimated Construction Start: Fall 2016 May 2017
Estimated Construction Completion:  Spring 2016 Late Fall 2017
Estimated Budget:   $3,602,375
 
Golden Meadows Fact Sheet
Golden Meadows Project Updates

Crescent Ave/ Cambridge Ave Stormwater Improvement Project (York Commons)

Creating flood storage in the open space portions of York Commons Park would significantly reduce the risk of flooding in three of Southwest Elmhurst’s flood-prone areas, specifically:  Crescent Avenue, Washington Street, and Swain Avenue/ Vallette Street.

 
Estimated Construction Start: Summer 2016
Estimated Construction Completion:  May 2017
Estimated Budget: $2,2108,151

York Commons Fact Sheet
Crescent Ave/Cambridge Ave (York Commons) Project Updates
Letter from Elmhurst Park District to City of Elmhurst -Use of Valve 01/29/16

York/I-290 Stormwater Improvement Project

Creating additional flood storage in the existing detention basins located at the intersection of York Street and I-290, in conjunction with the construction of relief sewers, would significantly reduce the risk of flooding for homes along Larch Avenue and Addison Avenue. Additionally, the expansion of the flood storage area would reduce the roadway flooding that makes York Street impassable during severe storm events.

The existing detention basins located at the intersection of York Street and I-290 have an approximately 10-year capacity. For storm events that exceed a 10-year frequency, the detention basins will overflow, resulting in significant roadway flooding and road closures in this location.  The goal of this project is to improve the function of the existing drainage system by increasing both the capacity of the existing pipe system and the capacity of the existing detention basin. Conveyance improvements, in conjunction with the creation of additional flood storage volume, would provide valuable flood-reductions benefits to the Larch Avenue and York Street flood problem areas. Relief sewers would be constructed that extend from the low areas of Larch Avenue and Addison Avenue to the detention basins located at York Street/I-290.  

Estimated Construction Start: Fall 2016
Estimated Construction Completion: July 2017
Estimated Budget:   $1,340,000
 
York/I-290 Fact Sheet
York/I-290 Project Updates

Police Station Rain Garden

The Project Involves the construction and maintenance of a rain garden, sized between 800 and 1,200 square feet, to include an engineered soil mix to promote infiltration, as well as a variety of native shrubs, grasses, and forbs, immediately south of the Police Station.  The goal is to reduce the runoff of pollutants, such as suspended solids, metals, and nutrients, which eventually flow into Salt Creek.  Two of the downspouts from the Police Station roof will be redirected from the storm sewer into this rain garden.  The City was awarded a DuPage County Water Quality Improvement Program grant for a portion of this demonstration rain garden.  Installation is scheduled for Spring of 2017.

Police Station Rain Garden Conceptual Drawing

Walnut-Myrtle-Evergreen Stormwater Improvement Project 

 This project will entail the construction of a series of storm sewers pipes along various streets and a drainage outfall to the Elmhurst Quarry to provide overland flood relief in the Walnut/Myrtle/Evergreen flood problem area, which is located adjacent to the quarry in the northwest corner of the City.

Estimated Construction Start: Spring 2016
Estimated Construction Completion: Fall 2016
Estimated Cost: $4,856,801

Walnut-Myrtle-Evergreen Fact Sheet
Walnut-Myrtle-Evergreen Project Updates

 
Webster Ave Stormwater Improvement Project  

This major stormwater improvement project will include converting the existing open space located south of St. Charles Road, and east of and Fair Avenue, into a detention basin with 2.2 acre-feet of storage.  This work will also include storm sewer piping improvements at the intersection of Fair Avenue and Webster Avenue, and on Fair Avenue north of the intersection.  These piping improvements will increase the ability of the storm sewer system to carry water to the detention basin before overland flooding gets to the low point of Webster Avenue.  At the intersection the existing inlets will be replaced with larger diameter structures, additional drainage structures will be added, and all curb-line drainage structures will have directional grates intended to capture additional stormwater.  Additionally, a parallel oversized storm sewer will be installed on Fair Avenue to connect the new drainage structures to the new detention basin. 
 
The storm sewer improvements are designed to drain stormwater into the detention basin in heavy rainfall events only.  Light rain events will continue to be conveyed by the existing storm sewer system and not enter the detention basin.
 
Construction Start: November 2015
Estimated Construction Completion: Spring 2016
Estimated Cost: $281,010
 
 Webster Ave Project Updates

York & Palmer Underground Stormwater Detention Project

At the intersection of York Street and Robert Palmer Drive in downtown Elmhurst, the City installed a StormTrap underground detention system. This concrete vault, measuring approximately  30’ x 69’, will provide approximately 0.21 acre-feet of stormwater detention.  Following the installation of the stormwater detention system, the parking lot was repaved with a new asphalt surface. This parking lot provides approximately 47 3-hour shopper parking spaces for people to patronize the downtown merchants.

Estimated Construction Start: 
Estimated Construction Completion: 
Estimated Cost: $


        

Geneva Ave Stormwater Improvement Project

Status: Site use has been rejected by Park District- Per Discussion at Park Board meeting on 2/10/16, the Park District is not in favor of the City's current proposal to approach the Illinois Department of Natural Resources about using the portions of the property for stormwater detention.  See Park District Board Meeting Minutes & Audio for more information (East End Park discussion begins at approximately 25:45 minutes).  As an alternate, the City purchased four properties on Geneva Ave for $1,135,000.00.  This will be designed to hold four acre feet of stormwater. 

Creating flood storage in the open space area in East End Park in conjunction with the construction of relief sewers would significantly reduce the risk of flooding for the homes in the Geneva Avenue flood problem area in Elmhurst.

Estimated Construction Start:  September 2016
Estimated Construction Completion:  December 2016
Estimated Cost: $841,000


East End Park Fact Sheet
Geneva Avenue Project Updates

Letter to Park District regarding use of land 01 13 2016