Elmhurst Teardown Project Upsets Neighbor

ELMHURST, IL — A Michigan Street resident is asking Elmhurst to hold builders accountable, citing her experiences this summer in dealing with a teardown project across the street.

Such projects are common in Elmhurst and other suburbs, in which older homes are demolished and replaced with newer ones.

At Monday's City Council meeting, Debbie O'Donnell, who lives in the 200 block of Michigan Street, said the builder has caused a "summer of hell" for her. She said her story began with three men jumping out of a Nicor Gas truck and digging a hole in her lawn to disconnect the gas line.

"When I called the city and asked why I wasn't notified of this, they simply said they weren't obligated," O'Donnell said. "Since when does a simple courtesy have to be an obligation?"

After that, she said, holes were dug in the street right in front of her driveway, making it difficult to leave her driveway.

"Who were these people? Nobody communicated this to me either," O'Donnell said. "Part of communicating is accommodating Elmhurst residents when they're going to infringe on their property."

Later, she said, a pile of stones was dumped directly in front of her driveway, making it impossible for her to get out. Additionally, a portable toilet was blocking the sidewalk all day long Saturday. And workers threw garbage around the property, she said.

Several times, O'Donnell said, the contractor's vehicles blocked a fire hydrant in front of her house.

"I know I should have called the police on that, and I'm going to in the future," she said.

O'Donnell, who has lived in Elmhurst for nearly 40 years, said Elmhurst informs neighbors about street projects, but does not require builders to give the same type of notice.

"This teardown has put undue stress and hardship on me," she told the council. "It's not being fair, and it's not right. The only way it's going to change is for you, every one of you, the city of Elmhurst, holding builders responsible for communicating and accommodating. I don't think that's asking too much."

The City Council did not respond to O'Donnell's comments. She is represented by Ward 3 aldermen Dannee Polomsky and Chris Jensen.

In recent weeks, a council committee led by Polomsky has been considering construction standards, which includes comparing the city's rules to those in other suburbs.

This summer, the city also has been dealing with a renovation project at 374 Aberdeen Court that has angered neighbors. It has lasted at least three years.