No Answer From Elmhurst On Lack Of Housing Plan

ELMHURST, IL — All of Elmhurst's city candidates have been asked why the city has not turned in an affordable housing plan required by the state.

The candidates apparently don't know for sure.

The question was asked Sunday during three virtual candidate forums organized by the League of Women Voters.

On Monday, Elmhurst Patch emailed the city's spokeswoman, Kassondra Schref, asking her for the city's reason. But she has not responded. She has repeatedly advised Patch that all questions to the city's administration should go through her.

None of the city's mayoral candidates — aldermen Michael Bram, Scott Levin and Mark Mulliner — gave a reason for the city's lack of a plan. A story on that issue appeared Monday in Patch.

Under state law, towns with more than 1,000 people and less than 10 percent affordable housing must submit affordable housing plans. Elmhurst is at 8.2 percent, according to the state.

Elmhurst is far from alone among the 46 towns that have less than 10 percent affordable housing. Fourteen others have failed to turn in plans and given no indication they are working on them. Among them is Hinsdale.

Six towns — Lincolnshire, Lincolnwood, Northfield, Wilmette and Winnetka — have submitted letters asserting their home rule status means they are not required to submit affordable housing plans, according to the state housing agency. Elmhurst is also a home rule town.

Here are the responses of alderman candidates at Sunday's candidate forums:

WARD 1

• Kevin Flanagan: "That's a question for the City Council about why we have never submitted a plan. I know Elmhurst is very expensive to live in. My wife and I, when we initially looked at houses, didn't even look in Elmhurst because we didn't think we could afford it. Fortunately, we were able to find the home we live in now. I think there has been a lot of development. When you're selling lots for $300,000 for the dirt alone, it's very difficult to make affordable housing work."
• Susan Smentek: She said Elmhurst should comply with the law and submit a plan. She suggested the city provide incentives to developers to provide affordable housing. "We need to promote some kind of affordable housing. We have to have senior housing, and we have to have units available for first-time homebuyers who are taking advantage of what the community has to offer."
• Jennifer Veremis (incumbent): She said she lives in Elmhurst's Pick subdivision, where the average house is about $260,000. "It's a great community for empty nesters who are looking to downsize their homes or new families looking to get into Elmhurst. I'll be honest, I don't know much about affordable housing. I'm open to hearing what other communities are doing."

WARD 2

• Tristan Dacre: He said affordable housing must be addressed, though he said he has not seen any movement on that front in the 21 years he has lived in town. He also said it was difficult to get developers to build affordable housing. "The trend right now in Elmhurst is building $800,000 or $1 million condos. Right now, the city is really promoting that." He said it was a challenge to find spots for affordable housing.
• Jacob Hill (incumbent): He noted he was appointed recently to the City Council and does not know the reason behind the city's lack of a plan. He said the city should make it a priority to reach 10 percent affordable housing. "There are probably many ways that can be achieved."

WARD 3

• Nektarios Avanitis: He called affordable housing a "tough topic." "I don't know why the city hasn't submitted an affordable housing plan. The City Council could probably answer that better." He said part of the reason for the lack of affordable housing was the "free market at work."
• Chris Jensen: He also called the issue a "tough topic." "I think why we haven't submitted a plan — one of the most basic things is following the law — is kind of confusing. I think going forward, we should find a way to work with developers and encourage affordable units in some of the larger developments and find a way to keep some of the smaller, older homes. Some of them are not in great shape." He also said it was tragic when an old, viable house is torn down to make way for a new, larger home. He noted many teachers, police officers and firefighters could not afford to live in Elmhurst.
• Alan Quarrie: "Realistically, I don't know why they haven't presented a proposal for affordable housing. I don't have a clue why they haven't followed the law."

WARD 6

• Peter Ahern: He said he didn't know why the city hasn't submitted a plan. He speculated the city hasn't done so because the community lacked places for affordable housing. "I feel committees should be put together to specifically address this. There has to be some solution to this and a way to figure out how to include affordable housing in our city and accommodate people with lower incomes who can live in these affordable housing areas."
• Emily Bastedo: "It's clear that because we have fallen below the target, the city should submit an affordable housing plan that's required by the state. Elmhurst is close to the 10 percent goal. A few years ago, we were above the goal. It's a market that fluctuates greatly. It's time to create a plan."
• Peter Dabertin: "I think we need to have more affordable housing in Elmhurst. I think we should meet the mandate." He said the city would have to work with developers and give them incentives to build such housing. Otherwise, he said, it would never happen.
• Yeena Yoo: She said the law requiring the plan lacks enforcement measures. "There's a reason why resistance to getting to the 10 percent threshold is rampant. One of the reasons that Elmhurst hasn't met the threshold is that we are one of the municipalities that has a home rule ordinance. That is often used to flout certain state laws." The city, she said, has given no incentives to build affordable housing. She said she would introduce such incentives if she were elected.