Phone Call Better Than 'Negative' Emails: Darien Mayor

ELMHURST, IL — Sure, Darien officials got their share of negative emails about the City Council's approval of an apartment building two weeks ago, Mayor Joseph Marchese said this week. But one opponent's phone call moved the conversation further, he said.

At the end of the council's meeting Monday, Marchese spoke about a call with a resident who opposed the council's decision. Marchese broke the tie in favor of the project, which neighbors were against.

Marchese said the man called him over the weekend and that he returned the message when he got back to City Hall on Monday. The man stated his reasons for disagreeing.

"We had a wonderful conversation," Marchese said. "After correcting some misperceptions of what we did that night, he for the most part pretty well agreed that what we did was right."

The man, Marchese said, expressed surprise that a mayor would call him back.

"I told him I return phone calls," Marchese said. "You can always expect a phone call if you call me."

The resident then said the mayor must get some "really nasty" emails and phone calls, which Marchese said was true.

"He said, 'I try to be respectful because my mother always taught me to be respectful,'" the mayor said. "Here was a man who called me to disagree with me, and at the end of our conversation, he came around. He did it in a very respectful manner. I really appreciated it. We got further in our conversation today than any of the people who sent the real negative emails. I just want to say there are a lot of really good people out there who will disagree with you, but they will do it in a really respectful manner."

The apartment building is set for the southeast corner of South Frontage Road and Sokol Court, east of the Extended Stay America hotel.

Residents said the structure would be too large for the property in question. They also objected to the proposed building's height, its closeness to a children's park and the effects on drainage. Fifteen years ago, a similar condo complex had been approved for the same spot. That project never happened.

Patch wrote a story on the emotional meeting in which the building was approved. Aldermen said some commentary against the project was derogatory toward renters.