Seemingly Forever Elmhurst Project Nears End: City

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst homeowner who has upset neighbors with a 4-year-long renovation project has agreed to end it by October.

The city and the homeowner, Harry Hostetler, signed an agreement last week for 374 Aberdeen Court. Last month, Mayor Scott Levin said the city would become aggressive in response to the ongoing project.

The agreement states that Hostetler has been fined for violations related to the construction and paid the penalties. Hostetler has repeatedly rejected work by contractors and then had the work redone, causing more noise and disruption to the cul-de-sac, according to the document.

The agreement's stated purpose is to balance the right of the owner to enjoy his property with the neighbors' right to peace.

Under its terms, Hostetler must complete the job by Oct. 5. He has agreed not to remove any work completed under the May 2021 building permit without contacting the city first and obtaining an agreement.

If the work continues past Oct. 5, the city has the right to red-tag the project and require all construction work to immediately stop until both sides reach an agreement or the DuPage County Court addresses the issue.

The agreement states that Hostetler cannot extend his current work for three years. Under the terms, he has agreed not to apply for any other building permit until September 2023 and all the work under such a permit must be done within 90 days of the permit's issuance. The same procedure applies for the three years after that.

In an email to neighbors, Mayor Levin wrote, "I personally spoke with Harry Hostetler last Wednesday, and he gave me his personal assurance that he would meet the deadline."

Levin told Patch last month that Hostetler had been paying daily fines of $100 for more than a month because the project had continued past its permit.

Hostetler has not returned messages for comment.

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.

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

He owns a $3 million house on the Lake Geneva shoreline in Wisconsin, according to public records.