The village of Glen Ellyn’s Historic Preservation Commission is concerned about a plan to tear down a 19th-century Victorian-style home on the edge of downtown.
Developer Matt Rooney wants to put a four-story mixed-use building on the site at 487 Duane St., which is adjacent to several retail buildings.
During a recent meeting, Lee Marks, chairman of the commission, expressed concern over the potential loss of the old structure, which was erected circa 1890. He said he is concerned the villagewill lose its sense of character and begin to look like any other suburban village.
Although the commission is only an advisory board, Marks asked if Rooney could be convinced to renovate the structure for use as a retail site, rather than raze the building. He cited suburban Geneva as an example of communities that have successfully protected historic buildings by using them for retail space.
Rooney, though, said renovation was not an option at the Duane Street house, which is divided into two apartments with single tenants in each space. Rooney said the house has some structural issues with the foundation, wood rot on the siding and trim, a roof in need of repair and animal infestation. The windows in the structure are vinyl and do not match with the 1890s structure, Rooney said. The garage on the property, part of which is an old livery stable, also has severe structural and safety issues, he said.
“Some structures are worthy of preserving, but this one is not,” Rooney said, adding there is also nothing salvageable from the interior or exterior.
According to a letter Rooney filed with the village, the new building would include a four-car garage. He also intends to include an asphalt parking lot for up to eight cars.
The ground floor of the building would consist of two retail units, each about 800 square feet. The second and third floors would consist of eight residential units. Each floor would have two single-bedroom units and two two-bedroom units. The fourth floor would have a multi-use space for residents. That space, Rooney said, would make up for the loss of common grounds outside of the structure that residents could use for larger gatherings.
The building would have two stairways and one elevator serving all floors. Storage space would be provided for each unit on the ground floor as well.
In his letter, Rooney pointed out the proposal fits with the village’s downtown strategic plan, which calls for space for retail establishments as well as living space within walking distance of downtown shops.
The village notes in that plan that residential properties surrounded by non-residential uses should be converted to commercial use or redeveloped for new uses. If the properties have historic homes on them, consideration should be given to relocate the homes.
Rooney said that, once he gets approval, demolition could begin in late summer and be complete within a year, weather permitting. The two tenants living in the house told him they would be interested in renting one of the spaces in the new structure.
Keown is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai