Elmhurst Residents Decry Sober Home Proposal

ELMHURST, IL — Residents in a northwestern Elmhurst neighborhood said Monday they support sober living homes, but oppose making an exception for one near them.

They cited the landlord's long history of problems at the property in question, 348 N. Larch Ave. They also noted the sober home for men with addictions started in 2018 without getting a permit.

The residents spoke during a City Council meeting in which aldermen were expected to decide on a permit for the sober home, which is run by Carpenter's Tools Ministries. Instead, aldermen delayed action on the issue until their June 7 meeting.

The home is seeking a permit for having up to seven people, up from the city's current zoning for the neighborhood, which allows up to four unrelated people in a house. Late last month, the city's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee approved the proposal, but required that occupants abide by the rules as a condition of the permit.

Many of the comments at Monday's meeting focused on Gary Vician, a Naperville resident and the longtime landlord at 348 N. Larch Ave. In 2006, an Elmhurst alderwomen went public with problems at the house, saying police were constantly being called there. In 2019, a person died of a heroin overdose at the sober home, according to a police report.

During public comments, residents said the city was prepared to give the permit to Carpenter's Tools Ministries out of fear that the group may file a lawsuit under the Fair Housing and Americans With Disabilities acts. Two years ago, Hinsdale sued to close a sober home in a residential neighborhood. The village lost, but federal prosecutors later sued the village, alleging violations of the Fair Housing and Americans With Disabilities acts. The litigation continues.

"We understand some people have voiced concerns about a lawsuit and compared this to a case in Hinsdale," Larch resident Marcia Murray told the council. "This isn't like Hinsdale. Do the right thing and not be afraid of a lawsuit under the Fair Housing Act."

Another resident, Sarah Dacre, said she supports sober living homes, but that was not the issue before the council. She noted Vician's long history of problems at the property, accusing him of flouting city rules for three decades.

"Kudos to him for finding the right loophole. Now his shingle says 'sober living' while he hides behind federal protection," Dacre said. "This late grab of a zoning variance after being caught in violation is duplicitous and deceitful. You will be rewarding him for his years of blatant disregard of neighbors and the city. This is about money, not his sudden wokeness for the disenfranchised. Shame on the city if this is allowed."

Resident Jennifer Maurer said federal law does not require the city to approve the exception to its zoning.

"There is nothing about addiction and alcoholism that necessitates that there are a particular number of residents in a sober home," she said.

Lani Allen, who lives the next block over from 348 N. Larch, said his entire block signed a petition against the sober home proposal — a petition that a neighbor said gained 99 signatures.

"There is 100 percent agreement there," he said.

Jay Webb of Carpenter's Tools Ministries said the problems at the house happened before the sober home started. Five people are in the seven-bedroom house now, with the number rarely reaching seven, he said.

People come into the house after staying sober for six months, but relapses occur, Webb said.

"If anyone knows recovery, you have relapses," he said.

Webb said the sober home is not what people think it is. Tenants, he said, have bonds as tight as many families in town. But he said he knew a stigma persists.

"It's not likely we'll get an invitation to a block party," he said. "We're the house where if the ball goes in, no one gets it."

One of the tenants, who described himself as a 66-year-old commodity trader and longtime Elmhurst resident, said the home's occupants are good citizens. Now, he said, is the time for Elmhurst to get behind sober homes.

"We can be an asset," he said.

In a Patch story last month, Vician, the landlord, defended himself against the neighbors' allegations.

After the discussion, Ward 2 Alderman Jacob Hill, who represents the neighborhood in question, voted to delay consideration of the permit until the June 7 meeting. The council voted 10-2 for the delay.

Aldermen Mark Mulliner and Michael Honquest, members of the council committee that recommended the permit's approval, dissented. The other Ward 2 alderman, Bob Dunn, the committee's third member, joined his colleagues. Dunn did not attend Monday's meeting.