Neighbors Speak Out: Why Birchview, Hollyview, and Idleview Are Asking for Attention

At Vermilion’s April 7 City Council meeting, residents from Birchview, Idleview, and the 4700 block of Hollyview came forward to describe what life is like when your street has been neglected for decades. A new video released by Vermilion Daily drives the point home — literally — showing a firsthand look at the crumbling roads, standing water, poor drainage, and patchwork repairs residents have been forced to live with.

Marcia Jonas, who lives on Birchview, warned that the condition of her street has become a safety hazard for everyone from young children to elderly residents. She said she was told by neighbors that the city considered Birchview “not a through street,” and therefore not a priority. But Jonas pushed back — arguing that Birchview is a through street and is used by residents, visitors, and even delivery drivers as a connector from Route 60 and Sailorway to West River and Hollyview.

Meanwhile, Pineview Drive, which lies just a block away, is scheduled for full reconstruction this year. Sidewalk installation is already underway, and city officials have said Pineview was prioritized because of its higher traffic volume — it serves as a direct route to the schools and ends at the community pool. Some residents accept that logic. Others say traffic on Birchview has been underestimated, and that both streets deserve equal attention.

The 4700 block of Hollyview Drive, also part of the Valleyview neighborhood, faces the same issues — potholes, erosion, poor drainage, and no sidewalks. Residents there have voiced growing frustration, calling the area “forgotten.”

Only Idleview Drive, according to residents, may be in even worse shape. Donald Hellbig submitted a strongly worded letter recounting over 30 years of neglect. “Visitors complain about the horrid condition and treatment to their vehicles when they traverse it,” he wrote.

With Pineview already funded, council members have acknowledged that difficult decisions remain ahead. A potential road levy has been discussed to help cover the city’s growing infrastructure needs, especially after council voted to restore the city’s full 1% tax credit — a move that could reduce available funds for road repairs.

“Fixing one street and ignoring the others isn’t progress,” Jonas told council. “It’s favoritism.”