3-Story Building In Elmhurst Clears 1st Hurdle

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst panel last week unanimously approved a proposed three-story medical office building in south Elmhurst. Neighbors have expressed concerns.

On Monday, the matter goes to the City Council's Zoning and Planning Commission. Then the full City Council has the final say.

Under the plan, the Elmhurst Hospital building is planned for the vacant land southwest of York and Lexington streets, between the hospital and Ebel's Ace Hardware. The developer is Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies, which handles many big suburban projects.

The developer is planning an 8-foot fence and landscaping along Kendall Avenue, which would be behind the building and next to houses. Drivers will be able to enter the property from York and Lexington streets. But to exit on Lexington, drivers can only go right – away from nearby houses, according to the plan.

Neighbors have told the city they fear the building may reduce their property values. The development, they say, could increase air pollution, noise, light pollution, traffic and crime in the neighborhood.

One woman noted that Elmhurst Hospital was nearby.

"I feel it would be appalling for the city to allow such expansion of the Elmhurst/Edward hospital campus around 2 existing homeowners," Lexington Street resident Amy Field said in an email to the city. "Shame on the City of Elmhurst for already allowing it to happen elsewhere on campus. These homes need to be acquired to ensure a more cohesive campus for the hospital, while guaranteeing no homeowner loses the value of their homes."

In August, neighbor Dan Cusack and other residents detailed their concerns with the proposal.

Meanwhile, the owner of the shopping centers with Ebel's and Jewel, which are at York and Butterfield Road, supports the proposed building.

"It is our feeling that the Ryan Company’s proposed development for Edward Elmhurst Healthcare is in keeping with the general character of the York Road corridor and will be complementary to the existing businesses in the area," Charles Margosian III of Lombard-based Highland Management Associates said in a letter to the city.

The nearby Timothy Christian Schools is also in favor.

"Things are done with a high level of excellence at Elmhurst Hospital, and the hospital plans to carry this same commitment into the proposed project with carefully planned landscaping, privacy fencing to mitigate noise and light pollution, way-finding signage for clarification in the
area, and most importantly – the hospital will carry and even expand its commitment to top healthcare," Superintendent Matt Davidson said in a letter.