Elmhurst Apartment Project Gets Unanimous Backing

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst is set to see another big apartment building downtown — the type of development that city officials like but that some residents contend hurts the community's character.

On Tuesday, the City Council approved the plan for a six-story, 200-unit apartment complex for the northwest corner of Haven Road and First Street, which is on the outer edge of downtown.

One resident spoke in opposition, though others had done so in earlier meetings of lower city committees.

Resident Elaine Jones said the development would violate the city's own guidelines for a "soft transition" to the houses next to downtown.

"This monolithic building is entirely too dense, too high, and seriously lacks green space and required setback from Haven Road," she said. "Traffic is already an issue for us, soon to be unbearable."

Council members took a different view.

Ward 3 Alderwoman Dannee Polomsky, who heads the council committee that recommended the project, said community voices guided the design and scope of the project and improved it. She said the denser parts of the plan moved to the western end of the property, away from the townhomes on Haven Road.

The developer, Polomsky said, agreed to reduce the number of apartments from 204 to 200 and include more brick and enhanced detail in its design. She also said traffic is expected to be "adequately accommodated."

"New development downtown brings vibrancy and foot traffic to support our businesses and organizations," Polomsky said. "The enhanced design and layout of this project is expected to attract discerning tenants and appeal to our established community."

The building is proposed by Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies, which has developed projects throughout the Chicago suburbs. The property in question consists of a number of parcels, including one that the city is selling.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Marti Deuter supported the project, but had a concern. She said the community should expect some benefit when it makes exceptions to its zoning rules.

"I don't think we've gotten that benefit through this process," Deuter said. "But I hope we do take one more chance to look at community benefits through the sale of the city's land and the use of the proceeds of that sale."

Ward 4 Alderwoman Noel Talluto, who represents the area in question, said she would like to see more brick on the building's east-facing side. That discussion, she said, can come with the sale of the city's property.

The ward's other alderman, Brian Cahill, agreed with Talluto.

"I would like to see the highest quality of materials used, not just what meets standards," he said. "This is Elmhurst. We want to uphold the highest standards, so I would urge Ryan not to cut corners, but to build an example of how future buildings should be constructed in Elmhurst."

The council voted unanimously for the project. Ward 7 Alderman Mark Mulliner was absent, but he voted to recommend the development last week as a member of the council's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee.