Downtown Plan Pushed in Darien

DARIEN — A half century ago, residents of four residential subdivisions formed an association that ended up founding Darien. Because of that history, Darien has no downtown. But that is something the mayor and others would like to change.

At this week's City Council meeting, Mayor Joseph Marchese talked about preliminary discussions for a proposed development on the northwest corner of Cass Avenue and 75th Street, which he called the geographic center of the town. The 12-acre project would take up the current site of Lace Elementary School, the Old Lace Schoolhouse Museum and Safety Village.

The city is now gauging the Darien School District's support. Marchese plans to meet with school officials soon.

"This is something we need to pursue. If it ends with the school district saying they are not interested, then it ends with them," Marchese told the council.

He said the ideas for the northwest corner of the intersection reflect the city's 2006 comprehensive plan, which guides the city's development long-term. Because of that plan, he said, Darien Pointe shopping center was developed some years ago on the southeast corner.

The mayor said the northwest corner would promote "sustainable living" that could include apartments, condos, retail and parking.

"It could become our downtown area. This won't happen in a month. This is a two- to four-year project," he said.

Marchese said the school district would need to find a new site for the students at Lace Elementary, possibly adding on to another school. He said the district's enrollment had dropped to about 1,300 currently, from 2,600 in the early 2000s.

The enrollment has dropped, but not quite so much, according to the Illinois Report Card website. Enrollment was 1,463 in 2019, down from 1,795 in 2002, a nearly 20 percent decrease.

In an interview, Darien schools Superintendent Bob Carlo said he and the district's business manager plan to meet with the mayor next week about the proposal. The district has taken no position, he said.

At least one alderman spoke up at this week's council meeting in support of the plan.

"I served on the comprehensive plan committee," Ward 6 Alderman Eric Gustafson said. "We pushed hard for the development of Lace School. You have my support on that. That is really our only opportunity to get a downtown."