As leaders of Hinsdale’s taxing bodies reflect back on 2024 on Page 5 of our holiday issues (village and library this week, school districts next week), we decided to take a look back at our own pages and share our thoughts on the top stories of 2024.
• High-powered electric bikes are banned in the village
We selected this story because it’s No. 1 in the most ignored rule in the village. We regularly see kids who are not old enough to drive on bikes that travel nearly as fast as cars and it frightens us every time.
• District 86 welcomes a new superintendent
This might be a routine story for some community newspapers, but here it was big news after the Hinsdale High School District 86 Board put Superintendent Tammy Prentiss on leave, had an assistant superintendent fill in for her, hired two interim superintendents to share responsibilities, and then hired another interim superintendent after one of them quit. We hope not to write about a new district leader for a long, long time.
• School districts reach deal on Clarendon Hills TIF
The situation seemed pretty contentious in July when Clarendon Hills officials abruptly announced plans to form a tax increment financing district along 55th Street. The village planned to use diverted property tax revenue for $17.7 million worth of improvements and $6.9 to purchase property. Following several meetings of the Joint Review Board and objections at Clarendon Hills Village Board meetings, the size of the TIF was reduced and those amounts were reduced to $10 million and $2 million, respectively. The village also made other concessions to the school districts.
• Historic preservation looks to future
After years of covering waves of demolitions of historic homes in the village, 2024 gave us the opportunity to cover an exciting number of preservation projects. The village’s new preservation incentives have worked wonders, it seems. After trustees in January approve the next five properties to be added to the Historically Significant Structures Property List, there will be 94 homes on it.
• Nomadic Red Devil swimmers return to home pool
Repairs to Hinsdale Central’s Don Watson Aquatic Center dragged into the fall sports season, meaning the girls swim team had to compete away until early October. Nevertheless, the team demonstrated its wealth of talent wherever it dove in and excelled at the state meet with a sixth-place finish.
• HCS relocates to old humane society site
At long last HCS Family Services got its own building at 22 N. Elm St. The nonprofit had operated out of the Memorial Building since its founding in 1937, but running a food pantry in the historic space had become increasingly challenging. HCS leaders worked with the village to renovate the property that previously housed the Hinsdale Humane Society.
• Bears grab Amegadjie in the NFL draft
Former Hinsdale Central football standout Kiran Amegadjie is selected by the Chicago Bears with the 75th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 National Football League Draft in April. Amegadjie, who starred at Yale University, was the third former Red Devil drafted since 2018, following Brian Allen and fellow Bear Doug Kramer Jr. May they both help awaken the Bears, please!
• New plaza unveiled at Memorial Building
In commemoration of Hinsdale turning 150 in 2023, local officials in November dedicated the Memorial Building Plaza. The $400,000 project, expanding the former 3,000-square-foot patio by 800 square feet using Unilock brick pavers and adding wall seating areas, was paid for village and Hinsdale Public Library funds as well as $80,000 donations. See you there in the spring!
