Keeping A Good Thing Going

Mayor Scott Levin talks to Elmhurst Magazine about the State-Of -The-City and Leadership

BY SCOTT JONLICH & LARRY ATSEFF PHOTOS BY VICTOR HILITSKI

Elmhurst Magazine Publisher Scott Jonlich and Managing Editor Larry Atseff sat with Elmhurst Mayor Scott Levin to talk about his first full term in office. His office navigated through the latter part of the Covid-19 pandemic that presented challenges and sparked ideas for a better future in the place he has called home for 25 years.

Boasting a vibrant downtown and charming neighborhoods, Elmhurst has quietly grown to a population of over 46,000 with strong academic schools and cultural institutions that include a symphony and an art museum. It has a well-regarded college, now a university, and a sense of community among business and government leaders who are willing to work together to improve Elmhurst. The Elmhurst Centre for Performing Arts will be a reality in the next few years. What’s not to like?

Levin won a 3-way race in April 2021 after being a 5th-ward alderman for ten years. He ran on a platform of responsible development, integrity, transparency, cooperation, and a full review of government departments. After he won, with 41% of the vote, he said, “people want to get away from division, and the election shows people are looking for someone who will reach out to both sides, progressive and conservative, and govern from the middle.”

When we sat down with him the other day, without prompting, he started our conversation by saying those same words about his job, day to day.

As it turns out, no one should be surprised. Levin’s family background is of community service. His father was a police officer. Levin got a degree in business, then a master’s degree in Public Administration. During a stint as Deputy Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority, he also went to law school at night and graduated with a law degree. He did not want to practice law, but he thought it would be a good idea to have that background if he wanted to advance in public service. He eventually became a litigation attorney and a law firm partner with over 35 years in the practice.

As a resident of Elmhurst, his son, and daughter went to York High School. He became an alderman of the 5th ward in 2011 and served as an interim Mayor for a short time in 2013.

He admits he inherited a good situation. Since the 60s, preceding mayors, government, and business leaders learned how to work together and successfully tackled significant issues like flooding and the business downturn when Oakbrook Center opened in 1962. The town is so proud of its history that the Elmhurst History Museum is an actual City department.

His recent “State of the City” address, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, reflected on how business and government leaders interact. Levin acknowledged the people around him, stating, “We have smart, energetic people in this town, and we enjoy working together.”

EM asked him what he has been proud of during his tenure. He points to his start of small group meetings every Monday with a cross-section of council members and City Manager Jim Grabowski. The Monday meetings are designed to hear all sides and all ideas, and not just people who agree with you. “As a lawyer, I have learned the importance of negotiations. Most cases are settled before one side or the other wins. By talking, we adjust. It has built trust, and we now have better plans and direction as a result.”

Another situation Levin is proud of is using common sense in bidding. He introduced a “mini” RFP (requests for proposals) concept. RFPs can be costly and time-consuming for everybody, including the government.

Levin recalled, “We had just built a parking garage on Addison Avenue, and there was an existing surface lot right across the street. I asked, ‘Why do we need that when we have a new parking garage? Instead of hiring a consultant to help figure out what to do with the surface lot, why don’t we just tell people we have a vacant lot and ask what they would do with it if it was sold to them?’ We got three bids and it was taken care of quickly. We decided to go with a fitness facility (FCC) and we now have a business that draws thousands to our downtown and we saved the expense of a drawn-out process.”

The Addison Avenue lot led to a discussion of Transit-Oriented Development or TOD. This term describes how towns build residential developments in their downtown where there can be less traffic and more people downtown shopping and doing business. Elmhurst planners and the City Council saw the opportunity and today, empty nesters, singles, and young couples enjoy beautiful apartments. The streets of downtown Elmhurst are alive with people. He says, “On a summer night, it feels like a resort and everybody is happy.”

Of course, not everything is perfect. Mayor Levin said “Like all suburban towns, crime, and violence in Chicago are issues to be concerned about. We all have to be smart and prepared. We want Chicago to succeed, too, because it is our business and cultural center. If Chicago doesn’t do well, we all suffer.”

While being Mayor is a part-time position, Levin enjoys being an ambassador for the town while juggling a full-time law practice. A native of Evanston and Chicago, Levin enjoys talking to new residents. “They tell me, they can’t believe how wonderful it is to live in Elmhurst. I can’t agree more. Our population is growing. On balance, things are going well, and we can keep a good thing going together.” ■