Elmhurst Plans 'Aggressive Stance' With Project

ELMHURST, IL – The home renovation project at 374 Aberdeen Court in Elmhurst started four years ago, and it continues, the mayor said Tuesday.

Neighbors are running out of patience.

"We are going to take a more aggressive stance – to get a plan from the owner to get the project done," Mayor Scott Levin said in an interview. "This may involve additional citations."

The owner, Harry Hostetler, has been paying daily fines of $100 for more than a month because the project has continued past its permit, Levin said.

"This is nothing personal. He's a very nice man. He's entitled to be treated fairly," Levin said. "It's at a point now where the neighbors' rights have to be taken into consideration. There's only so much that neighbors are expected to endure."

He said he recently met with Alderwoman Emily Bastedo, the city administrator and two city attorneys about the issue. The project is in Bastedo's Ward 6.

"Construction is part of living in an urban environment. But this has gone on too long. There's no reason that a properly managed project wouldn't get done by now," the mayor said. "This is a nuisance either under our ordinance or under (state) law."

Hostetler, who declined to comment on the matter last year, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Neighbors have complained that Hostetler's contractors appear to have redone parts of the home renovation several times. Levin agreed that was the case.

"There are aspects of the project that have been completed, removed and redone," the mayor said. "Part of our message is that we have to get the project done before redoing things."

Last summer, Patch reported on complaints that the cul-de-sac often became crowded with construction trucks. Neighbors also noted overflowing dumpsters and the fact that the owner dug up nearly the entire backyard.

In the summer of 2020, tensions boiled over when a neighbor upset with the construction took video of workers. Police were called.

While the Aberdeen construction lags, the multimillion project to demolish Lincoln Elementary School and replace it took a year.

Hostetler has longtime ties to Elmhurst and is listed as serving on the board for the Elmhurst Art Museum.

Patch has filed a public records request for more details on the city's dealings with the project.