Elmhurst Home Project Costs Neighbor
ELMHURST, IL – The controversial project to demolish a nearly century-old home on Arlington Avenue is costing a neighbor.
At Monday’s City Council meeting, neighbor Monica Cook said a recent excavation project extended to her lot line. Her mature elm tree is on the other side of that line.
A couple of weeks ago, she said the city notified her she had 30 days to remove the tree. On Wednesday, a contractor will do the job, which is expected to cost $8,000. She said the project eliminated half the roots.
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In recent years, she said her family had the tree treated for Dutch elm disease.
“I don’t want to portray this tree as the beacon for health, but we thought we had many more years with this tree,” Cook told Patch in a later interview. “The tree precipitously declined after the excavation.”
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An Elmhurst resident’s recent excavation extending to the lot line imperiled a neighbor’s elm tree, the neighbor told the City Council. The city has since ordered the neighbor to remove the tree, a job that is expected to cost $8,000. (Courtesy of Monica Cook)
Under the city code, Cook said, a resident has the right to excavate to the lot line, regardless of zoning setbacks. She also said the city has no setback for basements, with the neighboring house’s basement extending some feet beyond the structure.
The neighbor’s house is at 292 S. Arlington, which has been the subject of a debate for the last couple of months. Neighbors objected to the destruction of a historical home. But officials said the new owners had the right to do what they wanted with their property, as long as they followed city codes.
On Monday, the council took the final step toward approving a zoning change that paves the way for the demolition of the house at 292 Arlington and the construction of a larger house.
In March, Richard “RJ” and Alyssa Parrilli bought the house for nearly $2 million.
On Tuesday, Patch left messages with the Parrillis, their lawyer, Francis Bongiovanni, and city officials.
In her statement to the council, Cook said her concerns were neither “subjective nor a matter of taste.” Rather, she said the code’s lack of protection could harm other residents.
Under existing rules, the city’s tree ordinance protects trees in the parkways, which are the city’s easements along streets.
“While I was pleased to discover that parkway trees were abundantly protected, there was nothing to defend trees on personal property,” Cook said. “This has provided a clear incentive for new builders to clear-cut their lots and excavate with impunity.”
The removal of trees not only has an impact on a neighborhood’s beauty, but also when it comes to water management, Cook said.
Cook suggested a “tree tax” for the removal of trees above a specified diameter.
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