I see that nice brick house a few doors east of the high school was torn down. It looked really nice from the street. All I can think of is that someone really wanted to build something really nice right there and spent a lot of money to do so. Anyone know the scoop?

quote:

Originally posted by Fish:
I see that nice brick house a few doors east of the high school was torn down. It looked really nice from the street. All I can think of is that someone really wanted to build something really nice right there and spent a lot of money to do so. Anyone know the scoop?

Where is Crescent Ave??

It was taken down by someone who wants to buy as many houses on that hill as possible and tear them down. Apparently so it can be reinstated to its original glory. IIRC, she was completely opposed to what was done during the renovation of the house that came down. If I am not mistaken, it was once referred to as "The Taj Mahal." Ain't there no more. So somebody really didn't like it.

I guess renovation to your own personal taste applies only to those that can afford to buy up everything surrounding you and knock it down. FWIW, her home is absolutely incredible. But I sure would love to see her knock down the one she moved from and left to a family member. That would be appropriate...in my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by perplexed:

quote:

Originally posted by Fish:
I see that nice brick house a few doors east of the high school was torn down. It looked really nice from the street. All I can think of is that someone really wanted to build something really nice right there and spent a lot of money to do so. Anyone know the scoop?

Where is Crescent Ave??

Fish is just being stoopid. Sometimes he can't help it. He knows it is Crescent Boulevard, but he is trying to get someone to pick a fight with him.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:

quote:

Originally posted by perplexed:

quote:

Originally posted by Fish:
I see that nice brick house a few doors east of the high school was torn down. It looked really nice from the street. All I can think of is that someone really wanted to build something really nice right there and spent a lot of money to do so. Anyone know the scoop?

Where is Crescent Ave??

Fish is just being stoopid. Sometimes he can't help it. He knows it is Crescent Boulevard, but he is trying to get someone to pick a fight with him.

OHHH! Silly me... I thought Fish was always right and I must have missed the new street and high school.

The Ball family bought it and tore it down..just like they bought the lot to the West.

While her house may be wonderful on the inside, let's all just pray to God she that she doesn't build another garage on that property...as her taste in garages are nothing to behold in my opinion.

Where was our esteemed preservation committee when this house came down? It couldn't be that they were silent because they had a personal relationship with the home aggressor could it be?

quote:

Originally posted by perplexed:

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:

quote:

Originally posted by perplexed:

quote:

Originally posted by Fish:
I see that nice brick house a few doors east of the high school was torn down. It looked really nice from the street. All I can think of is that someone really wanted to build something really nice right there and spent a lot of money to do so. Anyone know the scoop?

Where is Crescent Ave??

Fish is just being stoopid. Sometimes he can't help it. He knows it is Crescent Boulevard, but he is trying to get someone to pick a fight with him.

OHHH! Silly me... I thought Fish was always right and I must have missed the new street and high school.

Did not know it was Blvd. Do not care. I've lived in this town for 10 years and still don't know 90% of the street names let alone whether they are boulevards, avenues, places, streets, parkways, courts, expressways, freeways or tollways. Just know I won't buy another house anywhere near here.

Back when I lived on the expressway on the south side of the tracks I lived next door to a "Ball" for about 5 years. He lived in a paint-peeling, eyesore of a teardown and parked his shiny Porsche in the garage. Weird guy.

quote:

Where was our esteemed preservation committee when this house came down? It couldn't be that they were silent because they had a personal relationship with the home aggressor could it be?

God, I knew you would push my buttons on this. The CFGEP really did not have anything to say about this "at risk" home, did they? Why not renovate it back to its original splendor? I think you may have it the nail on the head. If one donates enough money to any cause, not saying this is the case here, it may very well be tough to speak out against them. Perhaps that is why the village granted a demolition permit without batting an eye. That house certainly didn't seem like it fit the criteria for leveling, or did it? I was once told by one of the founding parents of the CFGEP that "no house deserves to come down." Fan...when a mutual friend asked this founding parent what the deal was with the house on Crescent, he was told via voicemail that it "was no big deal." That the house had been incorrectly renovated with inappropriate windows or some other BS. So, your comment about who is doing the knocking may very well hold some merit.

BTW, these are the same people who were vehemently opposed to having Pete Ladesic as a trustee. If I am not mistaken, that was the fourth house that that family has leveled since I have lived here. But I am certain that this village and the preservationists turn a blind eye because of the dollars. Hey, we are a village that likes to ice skate...I can understand why they are interested in the money flowing into their organizations...and the water flowing under Lake Ellyn. And to think...I was considering contacting this individual to see if that company would provide some plantings for the myriad empty planters in front of many of the closed stores or stores where the merchants were either too cheap or too broke to fill them in. At this point, I'd rather see them stay empty.

"Our Mission
We are a group of citizens who want to safeguard the distinctive character, history and architectural integrity of the Glen Ellyn community through historic preservation, planning and sensible growth.

The members of Citizens for Glen Ellyn Preservation came together because of their concern about the number of teardowns in the Village of Glen Ellyn, the types of buildings targeted for teardowns and the size of the structures replacing those buildings.

We believe that Glen Ellyn can preserve its cultural history and built-environment just as other cities,
towns and villages are doing throughout Illinois and the country. Our goal is not to stop teardowns altogether, but encourage the Village government to reduce the rate of teardowns of homes and buildings that are historically and architecturally significant.

We believe that citizens joining together can make a difference and that we can bring another point of
view to the Village government."


"What is a teardown?
A teardown means demolishing an existing house to make way for a significantly larger, new house
on the same site. Teardowns are a major threat in Glen Ellyn and in older, historic communities nationwide. They have an irreversible, negative impact on a community and mean the loss of the historic fabric responsible for visual character. This epidemic is so threatening that the National Trust for
Historic Preservation has added "Teardowns in Historic Neighborhoods" to its list of America's 11
Most Endangered Historic Places."

All of the above apparently is to be tossed by the wayside if the restoration is deemed inappropriate by the preservation group whose mission and comments are listed above. If the wrong materials or windows are used, it is OK to bulldoze. This is one reason that I am glad that I utilized Weather Shield windows in my renovation. Had I not, there would be no one around to stop me when I got a bug up my @ss and wanted to knock my place down. Good thing, too. Not certain that I could afford to replace it.

Not sure if it is common practice to remove windows prior to demolition, but all the windows were removed prior it being torn down. Someone must have thought they were worth saving.

That group is a joke. An absolute and distasteful joke. Our mutual friend relayed that information to me as well.

I promised myself that I would not let Glen Ellyn matters allow my blood to boil anymore...apparently, I've let myself down again.

And don't get me wrong, I have absolutely nothing against this woman buying the house and mowing it down....afterall, she's earned it the money to buy it and bought it on the free market where everyone was given a chance to bid...so she can do with it what she feels fit.

But why wasn't it opposed by those who do not share my views? Those who are of the belief that no house in Glen Ellyn should come down.

Why not?

Hypocrites.

I never saw a For Sale sign for that house....

From careful reading of the mission statement, it appears that as long as no "significantly larger, new house" is planned to be built on the same site, then the group will not become quite so upset.

Three cheers for open space!!

There was actually an auction for the land/house several months ago. So sad to see it torn down-it was beautiful. Amazing how fast it came down too.

Maybe I missed reading into this but does the house have to be a certain age -i.e. like 75 or more years or so or maybe a famous architect to be saved? Are the homes on Crescent 'older' like before the 30's or 20's or more new and modern? Actually I really cannot see some of those houses unless I get out of my car and walk around. From my car drive-by, I see only a few houses before I turn off under the bridge into my part of the world.

I thought windows do get removed as well as other significant or salvageable items. Probably plumbing, fixtures, appliances, etc. (Pete would know). and yes - the whole tear-down/removal thing is sadly quick! I had heard a while back that the Fire Department does not do the practice burns on those houses anymore. Anyone know anything different? My neighbors -like 2 houses down was the last one I saw. I took pictures.

Gotrocks? Any comments?

wow! drove by today and i couldn't believe it was THAT house...i remember noticing a heated driveway (like the one at Glenbard west) and thinking they'd need it. well, guess they don't need it anymore. amazing. just amazing.