'Wake-Up Call' For Elmhurst Mayor On Preservation
ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst Mayor Scott Levin said at Monday’s City Council meeting that the recent issue over a local home’s demolition was a “wakeup call” for him on historic preservation.
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“In my first year as mayor, I went to the Historic Preservation Commission to kind of see what was going on,” said Levin, who took the helm three years ago. “It didn’t seem like there was a whole lot going on.”
Seeing a reporter in the audience, the mayor sensed his acknowledgment would draw a headline.
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“I imagine a certain (Patch reporter) is going to say, ‘Mayor admits failure on historic preservation,'” he said.
The two-month controversy over the pending demolition of 292 S. Arlington Ave. has attracted a lot of interest.
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Residents have formed Citizens for Elmhurst Preservation, with many houses displaying “Preserve Elmhurst” signs. And nearly 1,400 have signed an online petition calling to save the Arlington house.
Levin lives a block away from the house in question. Many other homes have been torn down over the years to make way for larger ones. The mayor said his own house may be a demolition target if he were ever to sell.
“A lot of aldermen have commented that historic preservation is coming alive again in a lot of people’s minds,” the mayor said.
As a result of his comments, the mayor said many people may turn in applications to join the preservation commission “and you should.”
More than a decade ago, local historic preservation efforts reached a high point. At the time, a survey was conducted of the local inventory of historic homes.
In Hinsdale, battles over historic preservation often take center stage. Owners seeking to tear down homes must seek “certificates of appropriateness” and go through hearings.
Ultimately, though, property rights trump preservation interests.
A couple of years ago, Hinsdale enacted measures giving residents incentives to preserve historic homes. They can get financial help if they keep the historic look of houses, while getting the right to build rear additions and overhaul interiors.
Members of Hinsdale’s preservation commission have not been shy about publicly calling out developers and property owners. They did so earlier this year, which resulted in the enactment of further deterrents to teardowns.
A crane is used to remove an old elm Tuesday from the yard of 292 S. Arlington Ave. The owners plan to tear down the house, which neighbors oppose. (Courtesy of Resident)
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