Residents rally to fight plans for daycare center near Downers Grove

The sun room of Jennifer Shea’s home is a serene place.

On a recent evening, a breeze wafted through the comfortable space as the sun set over her spacious backyard. Heavily traveled Maple Avenue is nearby, but the only sounds that could be heard from Shea's property were the chirping birds.

A row of mature pine trees creates a natural boundary between Shea’s land and the neighboring parcel – a 1-acre lot situated at the northwest corner of Maple and Elinor avenues in unincorporated DuPage County.

The future of that lot, which is currently home to a small house, garage and shed, is suddenly of significant concern to Shea and her neighbors.

Their community, which is surrounded on three sides by Downers Grove, is being threatened by plans to build a daycare center on the lot, Shea said.

Shea, a Downers Grove native, has lived in her home for 21 years. She always assumed the neighboring property eventually would be used for residential development.

She was caught off guard when she learned of plans for a daycare center. She’s also unhappy about the way in which she discovered the proposal.

“I was driving up the street and noticed there were stakes in the ground,” Shea said.

She spoke to a man surveying the property, who mentioned the daycare center proposal.

The property is owned by Argianas and Associates, a real estate consulting firm with offices in Downers Grove.

Shea called Argianas and Associates and a few days later, received a packet from InSite Real Estate that detailed plans to redevelop the parcel. The July 18 letter stated InSite will meet with DuPage County to discuss the plans and welcomes feedback from community members.

Plans call for construction of a 12,870-square-foot "early education facility" that would be accompanied by infrastructure improvements, according to the letter. The facility would be operated by Everbrook Academy, a national chain that recently opened a facility in St. Charles.

InSite has "implemented a variety of design strategies to minimize the impact to adjacent property owners such as a proposed screening fence to block the glare of headlights from any cars in the parking lot and create a general visual buffer," the letter stated.

Jessica Kramer, a project manager for InSite Real Estate, said the plans are preliminary and the company continues to conduct impact studies. InSite also is gathering questions and concerns from neighbors, she said.

"It's all very preliminary," Kramer said. "It's still in progress. I've responded to everyone who has commented. We are looking to hear back from all the residents."

Shea has made her feelings clear.

"We don't want them here," she said. "I'm losing everything I've worked for over 21 years. I've put my heart and soul into this house."

Shea and her neighbor Andrew Remillard are heading up opposition to the plan, including an Aug. 4 rally at the site. The rally will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

They also have established a GoFundMe page to raise money for an attorney. Shea's Facebook video detailing the proposal and community opposition has received significant response. Signs indicating opposition to the plan have been placed throughout the neighborhood.

"Right now, we're getting the word out and educating," Remillard said. "No one wants this thing."