Darien Resident 'Very Frustrated' With Airbnb

DARIEN, IL — A Darien resident is continuing to complain to the city about disturbances at an Airbnb near Hinsdale South High School, an alderman said Tuesday.

The resident lives on Brookbank Road, just behind the Airbnb, which is in the 7300 block of Clarendon Hills Road.

At a City Council meeting, Alderman Lester Vaughan said the neighbor was "very frustrated" with the repeated parties at the house. He said the police have been called a number of times.

"I'm not sure where we are on the Airbnb's legality, but I literally get a text from him every time it happens," said Vaughan, who represents Ward 2.

Dan Gombac, the city's municipal services director, said the city's attorney has been dealing with a problematic Airbnb in another town. He said he would follow up on the status of that case.

Vaughan then asked whether the city had any legal grounds to ask such an Airbnb to cease and desist.

Gombac said the problem was that if the city were to take action for a particular situation, the renters would be long gone and there would be no case.

"It's frustrating on our level as well," he said. "We'll see what opportunities there are. We're not the first town to deal with this."

City Administrator Bryon Vana said he would follow up with the police. He said Airbnbs are not necessarily illegal.

"There are certain circumstances that could happen that would make (an Airbnb) a non-permitted use," Vana said. "That's why I'm suggesting we have a record of this. If there are a number of police or zoning violations, that could help us deal with the owner or whoever manages it for the owner."

Vaughan also brought up the situation with the Airbnb at a City Council meeting in September.