Elmhurst Site Revived Local Preservation Movement

ELMHURST, IL – Last year's demolition of the historic house at Arlington Avenue and Adelia Street in Elmhurst revived the local movement for historic preservation.

The land remains vacant, but perhaps not for long.

A plan for a new house has been submitted to the city and is under review, the city confirmed Monday.

The parcel is owned by Richard "RJ" and Alyssa Parrilli. In response to a Patch inquiry, Richard Parrilli declined to comment.

A sign on the property includes the former home's address plate and the city's construction code of conduct.

Dotting the neighborhood are signs that read "Preserve Elmhurst," a group that residents formed after the Parillis proposed tearing down the house. Members are now celebrating homes that turn 100.

Neighbors have seen other historic houses on the street torn down. But the house at 292 S. Arlington appeared to be the breaking point.

The house at 292 S. Arlington Ave. was nearly a century old before it was torn down last year. A video tour of the house is available online. (David Giuliani/Patch)

Last spring, the Parrilli family sought a zoning change to combine two lots. That would let them demolish the nearly century-old house for which they just paid $2 million and build a larger one.

In July, the City Council approved the zoning change, despite objections from neighbors.

At the time, Mayor Scott Levin, who lives a block away from the property in question, acknowledged that not a "whole lot was going on" with the local Historic Preservation Commission. He said he would change that.

By contrast, Hinsdale has long promoted historic preservation.

In early 2024, Hinsdale historic commission members spoke against a planned demolition, with one saying the owner wanted to "screw" the neighborhood.

Hinsdale later changed its code to further discourage teardowns, with officials saying they ultimately had to respect property rights.

A couple of years ago, the Village Board started providing economic incentives for owners to preserve homes, rather than raze them.

For those who propose teardowns, the process is deliberately more difficult in Hinsdale.

In an email to Patch, Jim Schuetz, who lives near the demolished house and belongs to Preserve Elmhurst, said the group's efforts have been worth it.

"While we weren't able to save that particular home, our efforts weren't in vain," he said. "We succeeded in sparking meaningful conversations – among neighbors and city leaders – about the vital role historic preservation plays in maintaining Elmhurst’s unique charm and character."

The group has grown into an "energetic" team of 18 volunteers who meet monthly, Schuetz said. One of its projects is celebrating Elmhurst homes that turn 100 years old.

"In 2025, we’ve identified 268 homes built in 1925 – part of the post-World War I housing boom – that will reach their centennial," he said.

This week, Preserve Elmhurst is distributing personalized "birthday cards" to each of those homes.

"Each card features a current photo of the home and a message of appreciation to the homeowner for helping preserve Elmhurst’s charm and architectural heritage," Schuetz said.

Richard "RJ" Parrilli (middle) and his wife, Alyssa Parrilli, are with their lawyer, Francis Bongiovanni, at an Elmhurst public hearing last May. (David Giuliani/Patch)