Two century-old homes expected to be demolished in Downers Grove may be saved.
Resident Susan Estall and Dawn McKenna of Orland Park-based Artisan Builder are working with the village to save the houses, at 1137 Gilbert Ave. and 1122 Curtiss St., that would be demolished along with seven neighboring houses to make room for a rowhouse development.
The two houses were purchased as part of the village’s land bank policy. Now the village is considering plans to redevelop the land for higher-density residential use.
Estall and McKenna presented their plans to the board and asked council members to allow them more time to arrange financing and get zoning approvals.
Both houses are more than 100 years old and include features such as original moldings, windows with beveled glass and oak hardwood floors, McKenna said. Estall and McKenna would like to relocate the houses to land they plan to buy from the Downers Grove Community Church at Fairview Avenue and 66th Street.