'Recipe For Disaster': Darien Residents Object To 4-Story Apartment Plan

DARIEN, IL – Several Darien residents expressed their distaste Wednesday for new apartments in town.

They were reacting to a proposal for a development that would include retail and a 156-unit, four-story apartment complex. One of the residents suggested the rentals would bring more crime to town.

It's not unusual for residents in Darien and other suburbs to object to apartments. This feeling persists even as housing costs spike.

In 2021, a split Darien City Council approved a four-story apartment building after heated opposition.

Under the latest proposal, a New Jersey-based developer wants to overhaul the largely vacant Chestnut Court shopping center, which is southeast of 75th Street and Lemont Road.

City officials had wanted the property to be redeveloped and are considering a tax subsidy to help with the project.

The owner of the Chestnut Court shopping center plans to overhaul the complex. His plan includes a 156-unit, four-story apartment building. (David Giuliani/Patch)

However, residents spoke out against the proposal at Wednesday's Plan Commission meeting.

Resident Pam Taylor, who has run for alderman before, said apartments mean that the new residents won't be invested in the community.

"Who is going to be coming into this area?" she said. "That space is not conducive for apartments. Maybe condos. I don't think it adds anything to the (city). Certainly, property tax-wise, we'd be better off with more shops and businesses."

Another resident, Diana Mayer, called the proposal "a recipe for disaster." She said she moved to Darien because it is a peaceful town of houses, not apartments.

"We're going to have looting, crime, possible fires, possible disruption, chaos," Mayer said. "I dealt with that in Plainfield. I dealt with that in Aurora. That's why I moved."

She continued, "You know how renters are. We know how a lot of renters are, not all. I don't want Darien to turn into that unpeaceful town. I don't want to feel like I'm in Chicago."

Resident Victor Patton said he opposed high density in Darien.

"The last thing I'd like to see is a four-story building," he said.

Residents also expressed concern about the impact of more children on local schools. They said they feared for the children in the apartment complex, saying the renters would be next to a retail parking lot and a wetland.

Architect Anders Rustin, who was speaking on behalf of developer Kumar Bhavanasi, said they did not expect many children to be in the complex. And he said access to the wetland would be restricted.

The complex, Rustin said, was designed for single people such as young professionals. It would consist of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, according to the plan.

"I don't think there would be a lot of families with kids," he said.

Mayer spoke up, saying single people aren't moving to Darien.

"They're going to Naperville," she said.

The Plan Commission approved most of the zoning requests, with 6-0 and 5-1 votes.

Under the proposal, 90,000 square feet of the shopping center would be demolished on its south end.

The developer also plans a standalone 13,000-square-foot retail building west of the apartments.

The proposal includes keeping the standalone bank building. Also, a 5,000-square-foot restaurant building with a drive-thru would be built at the corner of 75th and Lemont.

The developer also plans to add 11,000 square feet to the north side of the shopping center, next to Jo-Ann Fabrics. Parts of the shopping center, including Jo-Ann, would be renovated.

According to the plan, other on-site improvements would include landscaping, fencing, walkways, parking, loading areas and stormwater facilities.

Darien is looking to set up what is known as a tax increment financing district, commonly known as a TIF, for the center.

The zoning proposal next goes to the City Council's Municipal Services Committee, which meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.