Residents Rail Against Day Care Proposed Near This 'Treacherous' Intersection

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — If you drive near 2414 Maple Ave. in unincorporated Downers Grove, it's hard not to notice the dozens of "No Day Care" signs lining the roadway. The signs are just one part of an effort by area residents to speak out against a large-scale day care project proposed for the site.

Neighboring homeowners say the proposed day care will increase traffic and cause a "perfect storm" of safety issues in the residential area and at the bus stop used by students who live nearby.

The 59,247 square foot property is owned by Argianas & Associates. Developers InSite Real Estate are proposing an 11,780 square foot building and a 5,000 square foot playground that would be operated by BrightPath Child Care. The site is zoned R-4 for residential use and a day care will require a conditional use permit.

The site is in unincorporated Downers Grove and falls under the jurisdiction of DuPage County. The roads are under the purview of Lisle township, Jen Shea, who has lived just north of the site on nearby Elinor Avenue for 28 years, told Patch.

She said the intersection of Elinor and Maple Avenues is "a treacherous corner" that has been the site of many crashes.

According to Shea, this isn't the first time a day care was proposed for the site. She said similar efforts in 2017 were ultimately withdrawn "when they realized there was such strong opposition to the development."

She told Patch she noticed surveyors nearby around Memorial Day and "learned later that InSite Real Estate was circling back to get a conditional use permit from the county to build a large-scale day care center next door.”

Shea and neighbors Fran Secrist and Lisa Ozzello said short notice was given to residents regarding a public hearing that was set for May 29 with DuPage County officials. They told Patch the initial notice was only shared with residents who live within 300 feet of the property.

Word traveled quickly, though, and once other residents became aware of the day care proposal, they catalyzed efforts and outreach to share their concerns with the county and developers.

The public outcry was so significant, the hearing was rescheduled for June 17, Ozzello told Patch.

A petition was started, which has since garnered more than 200 signatures, with "the overwhelming majority of resident homeowners and families opposing this project from Walnut to Belmont and College to Inverness," Shea told Patch.

She added that many residents written letters and emails to DuPage County's zoning board, InSite Real Estate and BrightPath Child Care in opposition to the project.

Shea said more than 60 signs have been ordered and even more were made by hand. According to Ozzello, Shea recently had to put in an order for more signs.

There's also a Facebook group called Save Elinor Again - 2025, that offers resources and information for residents who oppose the development.

At the heart of residents' concerns is how increased traffic will impact the safety of residents and students nearby.

Shea said the day care aims to have 32 staff members serving 176 students. The only entrance proposed for the site is on Elinor Avenue, Ozzello said.

According to Shea, the unincorporated area has no sidewalks, so pedestrians often walk on the street via the side of the road where the entrance would be.

“It’s just a converging mess," Shea said.

The bus stop at the corner of Maple and Elinor, combined with a nearby blind spot, is of great concern to residents, Ozzello, who has an 11-year-old son, told Patch.

“My top, number one concern is the safety of the children at that bus stop," Ozzello said, adding that the street is not big enough to accommodate sidewalks.

According to Ozzello, there's no concrete at the bus stop, so students are often standing in the street in winter.

Shea believes the day care would be "welcoming well over 200 vehicles onto Elinor during pickup and dropoff."

“It’s a perfect storm if it’s not researched properly and looked at from all these different angles," Shea told Patch. "And it’s the people that live in the neighborhood that know all these angles from their history of living here.”

Secrist said no traffic light has been proposed for the intersection, as there are traffic lights nearby.

"It's not the right location and the right time," she said.

Shea and Ozzello agree, remarking that they would welcome a residential development.

“It’s a residential street; it’s not a place for a day care," Ozzello said, acknowledging that she "understands the need for affordable, reliable, trustworthy day care."

“We’re not against the project; we against the project in that location," she told Patch.

Also on Patch:

Extensive Redevelopment Unanimously Approved By Downers Grove Council