'Tragic' Planned Demolition In Elmhurst Draws Opposition

ELMHURST, IL – Neighbors of a historic house in Elmhurst are pleading with the city to reject a request to change the property's zoning designation.

They are doing so because the owner, Richard Parrilli, plans to demolish the nearly century-old house to make way for a new home.

The house is at 292 S. Arlington Ave. It is southwest of Arlington and Adelia Street, two blocks east of York Street.

Parrilli, who paid $2 million for the house in March, is seeking the city's permission to consolidate that lot with a vacant lot to the south. This would require converting the zoning to residential estate, from single-family residential.

The city's Plan Commission is set to take up the matter next week.

In a message to the Plan Commission, Jim Schuetz, who lives a block away on Kenilworth Avenue, pointed to a study of historic houses that the city commissioned in 2010.

Since then, nine of the 28 houses on Arlington and Kenilworth avenues that the study identified as architecturally significant have been torn down, Schuetz said.

"Our neighborhood conversations about the possible teardown are filled with comments like 'tragic,' 'incredibly sad,' "shocking' and even 'insane,'" Schuetz said.

Arlington and Adelia, he said, is perhaps the "most impressive historic corner" in Elmhurst, with houses on each corner representing the city's charm, Schuetz said.

He said neighbors are open to some demolitions.

"We certainly do not oppose all teardowns in this historic area. Many of the teardowns suffered from poor designs or had fallen into significant disrepair, and the new homes have benefited our neighborhood," Schuetz said. "We do not believe that 292 Arlington falls into this category."

In an email to the city, neighbor Paul Wheeler said that "beautiful old homes in my neighborhood ... are being torn down at an alarming rate."

"Where are the stewards of our historic area? We are not only concerned about the old homes, but old growth trees and foliage that may not or cannot be replaced due to the sheer fact that there will be no room for them to grow because of the size of these new homes being built that take up most of the land," Wheeler said. "It does not appear that the city has any idea or care how this affects a community."

As of Friday afternoon, more than 450 people had signed a Change.org petition calling for saving the house at 292 Arlington. The petition was set up by Wheeler's wife, Amy Wheeler.

Patch left a message for Parrilli on Friday afternoon. He said he would take questions by text message.

The Plan Commission meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 209 N. York St.