A group of Westmont residents has succeeded in blocking the conversion of a single-family house into an office building in a predominantly residential neighborhood.
Mazur and Son Construction, of La Grange, had sought to have the house at 411 N. Cass Ave. rezoned to office and research use for the firm`s offices.
But the Westmont Village Board voted unanimously Monday not to change the zoning after area residents protested the change.
”We fear that if an office goes in there, then Lord only knows what would happen,” said Mary Winterland, who lives in the same block.
Dorothy Dreischerf, president of the nearby Parkwood Condominium Association, said that an office would ”change the environment” of the neighborhood.
”We spent a great deal of time, effort and money to make the building look attractive” for the 51 families who own Parkwood condos, she said.
”We may end up with a Big Macs next to us, and I don`t think anyone`s going to want to stay in the building then,” she said.
The board voted against the change despite a warning by Mayor Frank Bellerive that the proposed office zoning is very restrictive and the current apartment zoning on the building actually could pose a worse problem for residents.
Under current zoning, he said, the neighborhood could be faced with ”a bunch of kids running around.”
Tom Mazur said his company is a ”small, family-owned” firm that has been in business since 1946. ”You wouldn`t even know we`re there,” he said.
