Darien Apartments Get Final Thumbs-Up

DARIEN, IL — Gone were much of the emotions during the debate in the spring over the proposed Darien Heights apartments. On Tuesday, the City Council approved the final plans for the four-story complex with relatively little discussion.

In early May, the council voted for the preliminary plans. Tuesday's vote was on whether the final plans followed the preliminary ones.

During public input, Wally Wrighton, president of the Preserves of Waterfall Glen Township Association, praised the professionalism of the city's staff's handling of the project, but said the association still opposed it. He said it was too dense.

"Further, the developer's marketing plan places too much reliance on the demographic group of young mobile professionals who will be able to find more attractive rental options elsewhere," Wrighton said.

He noted the project was near the noisy Interstate 55.

"This project will be severely hampered to become financially viable," Wrighton said.

The proposed apartment project is set for the southeast corner of South Frontage Road and Sokol Court, east of the Extended Stay America hotel.

Later in the meeting, Ward 4 Alderman Tom Chlystek disagreed with Wrighton. He said the four-story Farmingdale Apartments complex, which is in his ward, has 96 percent occupancy, with monthly rent ranging from $1,100 to $2,300.

"That's more than a mortgage," Chlystek said.

Some Farmingdale Apartments renters, he said, have been there since the 1980s.

"Some people don't want to own. That's fine," the alderman said. "I haven't had any issues."

He warned if the apartments were rejected, "you'll get a warehouse or a gas station," adding that "this is the best addition for Darien."

A couple of people in the audience groaned.

Also during public comment, resident Ken Veselsky, who lives in a nearby townhome, said he feared that the apartments would worsen the area's drainage.

But Dan Gombac, Darien's municipal services director, said the city requires drainage improvements that take into account 100-year floods. He said the Darien Heights proposal includes such mandated measures.

The council voted 6-0 for the final plans for the apartments. Ward 6 Alderman Eric Gustafson, who last attended a council meeting June 21, was absent.