A local architect has publicly criticized what she calls inflexible city building requirements that are delaying the renovation of a downtown Elmhurst building planned to house a new boutique. Erica Blawat, an Elmhurst-based architect, expressed her frustration on social media regarding the city's handling of her redesign proposal for 128 N. Addison Ave., where Spark Scent Collective is expected to open.
The 1,200-square-foot space previously housed Dulles Cleaners, which gained notoriety in 2021 when its owner posted a sign that some community members interpreted as anti-Asian. The building now requires significant renovation work to accommodate the new boutique, but city regulations are proving to be a stumbling block for the project.
Blawat took to her firm's Facebook page last month to detail her concerns about the city's approach to the building redesign. She explained that her design concept embraces the historic retail architecture characteristic of downtown Elmhurst. The renovation plans include fire-rated trim and paneling that would both cover and protect the building's damaged masonry, addressing both aesthetic and safety concerns.
The architect emphasized that the project would feature a prominently visible side courtyard that would showcase the building's original brick construction. "The new exterior would reflect the building's original era and use, while complementing the new retail aesthetic and meet current building codes (unlike the materials we removed!)," Blawat wrote on her firm's social media page.
According to Blawat, the newest iteration of the design represents a significant improvement over the original proposal, incorporating more windows and enhanced curb appeal to better serve the downtown area. However, she says the city has recently informed her that additional redesign work may be necessary to comply with local building amendments.
"Unfortunately, we were recently informed by the city that we may need to redesign this facade yet again – this time to meet a rigid interpretation of local 'amendments' that assign required percentages of exterior cladding materials for 'downtown consistency' without a defined reason or rationale," Blawat stated in her social media post. She also shared her concerns on the Facebook page of Preserve Elmhurst, a local organization that was formed after plans emerged to demolish a historic home on Arlington Avenue.
The city of Elmhurst did not respond to requests for comment regarding Blawat's criticism of the building code requirements. The delay in the approval process continues to hold up the opening of Spark Scent Collective, leaving both the business owner and architect uncertain about when the project can move forward with construction.
