'Worth A Shot': Darien Panel OKs Apartments

DARIEN, IL – Darien resident Mimi Raffenetti suggested the city do away with its slogan – "A nice place to live" – if it approves an apartment complex.

The reason? "Because it's not going to be true."

Raffenetti joined other residents Tuesday at a city meeting to oppose a New Jersey developer's plan for a 156-unit, four-story complex.

It is part of overhauling the struggling Chestnut Court shopping center southeast of 75th Street and Lemont Road.

Raffenetti asked whether the apartments would include Section 8 housing, which is where the federal government provides rental assistance to low-income households.

A representative of the developer said such housing was not part of the plan. Although Section 8 makes up a tiny percentage of housing in the western suburbs, questions about it typically arise with any proposed apartments.

Another resident, Liz Hayes, said she could not understand why the city wanted apartments with the limited space available in town.

"We don't have a good history with apartments in Darien and the surrounding area," she said.

Resident Simeon Kim also questioned the proposal. He said he and his wife would not have moved to Darien if more apartments were planned.

With the new complex, he warned, "Darien will be a transient city. People will be here for one year or two years."

The project's architect, Anders Rustin, said the developer is aiming to attract young professionals for the studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. Rustin said the developer only expected a few families with children.

"The tenants can help supply the stores, and the stores are the reason for the tenants who want to live there," Rustin said.

Architect Anders Rustin answers questions Tuesday about a proposed commercial and residential development at 75th Street and Lemont Road. (David Giuliani/Patch)

As with a meeting last week, some residents questioned whether the apartments would attract the type of renters that the developer is targeting.

The residents spoke at a meeting of the City Council's municipal services committee, made up of aldermen Thomas Belczak, Ted Schauer and Ralph Stompanato.

Belczak said residents' statements about the apartment complex are what he thought when the City Council approved an apartment complex on South Frontage Road in 2021. "Who would want to live there?" he said he thought at the time.

But he said he was wrong. The Jade Residences of Waterfall Glen, he said, were close to capacity.

Stompanato said he went to a function at The Jade after it opened. Most of the tenants, he said, were in their 20s and 30s.

He said he asked the renters about their jobs, finding accountants and architects, among other occupations.

"I didn't see any kids there," Stompanato said.

Schauer said the council's majority "put our necks on the line" approving The Jade.

"It turns out we were right about it," he said.

He said Chestnut Court, which is largely vacant, needed a boost after years of struggling.

The committee unanimously supported the zoning for the Chestnut Court plan.

"I think it's worth a shot," Schauer said.

Last week, the Plan Commission approved the proposal.

The full council is set to vote on the development when it meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

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

The developer, Kumar Bhavanasi, 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 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.

Residents opposed to the proposed development set up an online petition Wednesday. As of Thursday morning, 68 people had signed.

If you want to contact the City Council about the Chestnut Court plan, aldermen's contact information is on the city's website.

Ward maps are also available, so you can figure out who your alderman is.