Darien Religious Building To Be Torn Down: City

DARIEN, IL – The Society of Mount Carmel plans to demolish its building called Castle Eden, also known as the White House, the city of Darien said Tuesday.

In a Facebook statement, the city said it had received inquiries about the teardown plan.

Built in the early 1900s, Castle Eden is on the grounds of the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien.

The city cited a statement in the parish bulletin from the next-door Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church: "There is some concern in the Darien community about the Carmelite-owned building on the corner of Frontage Road and Bailey Road known as the White House. It has been approved for demolition. The house is in no way connected to the parish, and the parish has had no input in the planning."

The city said the Society of Mount Carmel began the demolition permit process. The city said it was obligated to issue the permit once it was approved.

Society of Mount Carmel representatives couldn't be reached for immediate comment Tuesday afternoon.

In June, Darien aldermen approved the Society of Mount Carmel's request for a home for priests in the Tara Hill neighborhood. The group paid nearly $1.2 million for the house.

The Carmelites are a religious order of the Catholic church, founded in the early 1200s.

Pope Francis was once quoted as saying, "Carmel teaches the church how to pray," according to the group's website.