Hinsdale Makes Developer Wait On Building Home

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale officials want to make it harder for developers to tear down historic homes and build anew.

And that's exactly what they did Tuesday.

At a Village Board meeting, trustees declined to vote on a builder's request to move ahead with his project in the Robbins Park Historic District.

In early August, the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously voted against the proposal to tear down and replace the nearly 160-year-old house at 142 E. First St. It is known as the Hallmark House because it appeared in the card company's TV ad in 1970.

"It's a locally landmarked structure, and, in my opinion, deserves a pause," Trustee Alexis Braden said.

Robert Cimala, president of Legacy Homes Cimala, said preserving the 2½-story house would cost too much. And he said no one showed an interest in remodeling.

He said he made some concessions to the village, so the property would better fit into the neighborhood. But he pleaded with the board to show courtesy by voting Tuesday, even if the vote was against him. Under the village code, the board's votes are only advisory.

"It's going to cost me a lot more in carrying costs if you push this over and not vote," Cimala said. "To me, that's sending the wrong message. You're telling people who come before you in the (historic) district that if they work with you some, it doesn't matter. They're still going to get delayed and delayed and delayed."

Trustee Luke Stifflear asked Cimala what stopped him from carrying out 90 percent of a village committee's recommendations for the new house.

"Was it 100 percent money or were there other considerations?" the trustee asked.

Cimala said committee members wanted him to build a new home similar to the old one. But he said most buyers aren't looking for such houses these days.

"It has nothing to do with money," he said.

The proposed house, he said, includes both traditional and transitional aspects, but nothing that would make it contemporary.

But Cimala warned that more and more home buyers, particularly younger ones, want contemporary-style houses.

Stifflear asked for a motion on the house, but everyone stayed silent.

"So you're not going to vote?" Cimala asked.

"There's no motion," Stifflear said.

The Village Board plans to revisit the issue Sept. 16.

While the village makes the demolition process intentionally difficult, it provides incentives for homeowners to preserve their houses.