Big Elmhurst Apartment Project Moves Ahead

ELMHURST, IL — A key Elmhurst City Council committee this week recommended a proposal for a 200-unit apartment complex in downtown.

Additional brick will be incorporated in the design of the six-story building as the result of Monday's meeting of the council's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee, its chairwoman, Alderwoman Dannee Polomsky, said.

"Resident advocacy made this a better project," Polomsky said in an email to Patch. "It raises the bar for future developments with its incorporation of quality and timeless design elements."

She said she expected the full City Council to vote on the project at its meeting Tuesday.

In November, the Zoning and Planning Commission unanimously voted in favor of the proposal. The complex is planned for the northwest corner of Haven Road and First Street, which is considered the outer edge of downtown.

Neighbors said they wanted to reduce the proposed building's height to four stories within 100 feet of Haven Road and increase the yard setback off Haven by 25 feet, from the proposed 13 feet. The commission rejected both of those requests.

The $75 million project is expected to deliver an estimated $850,000 in tax revenue and create 215 full-time construction jobs, according to the developer, Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies.

For years, city leaders have encouraged condo and apartment development downtown. They say this adds vibrancy to an area that would otherwise suffer from the increase in online retailing.

Opponents, however, say such development is changing the character of Elmhurst.