WEST TOWN — The impending demolition of a 1960s-era ranch set to be replaced by a much larger home will change the character of a block on Erie Street, some longtime residents complain.
Early Monday, a demolition crane was poised inches from the window of a home at 2308 W. Erie St., one of a string of blond brick raised ranches on the north side of the street, just west of Oakley Avenue.
The home was previously owned by Josephine Custer, a mother of five who died at age 100 last year, according to Julie Sawicki, who has lived next door in a similar home since 2004.
Developer Bogdan “Dan” Popovych, owner of Panoptic Group, bought Custer's former home last year.
The city granted Panoptic Group a demolition permit on May 26 and a building permit to erect a 2-story single-family home with a basement and detached two-car garage on May 31, city records show.
Popovych did not respond to several requests for comment.
Sawicki, who has been at odds with Popovych for the past few months, attempted to buy the house with the hopes of moving her mom to the neighborhood but was unable to secure backing.
Last week, Sawicki says she was told by Popovych that if she could find a buyer willing to shell out $535,000, he'd sell to that buyer and "walk away" from the project.
"I am pro-business and pro-development but I believe that development should be responsible, with consideration to adjacent properties. I also respect individual property rights. However, these property rights should not be at the expense of someone else's property rights," Sawicki said.
The exception to the row of 10 similar homes on the north side of Sawicki's block is a new home at 2326 W. Erie St. that was put on the market last week. That home has an asking price of $1 million.
Sawicki said the new home "sticks out like a sore thumb" and dwarfs the neighboring one story homes to its left and right.
Sophia Klopas, a real estate agent who put the home up for sale last week, disagrees with Sawicki.
"Have you seen the houses across the street? It's not like it's the only new construction on the block. I don't understand it but I hear their concerns," Klopas said.
A home at 2326 W. Erie St. in West Town, listed for $1 million. [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]
The south side of the block features several larger homes.
Developer Josue Sabillion, owner of Axios Acquisitions, who built the home at 2326 W. Erie St. with the intention of selling it, said that he bought a one-story ranch on the lot for $379,000 last June and demolished it.
"We faced resistance [from neighbors] but the reality is these homes have been around awhile. The neighbors did not want the neighborhood to change but it's challenging to prevent a home owner from developing on their property, and to limit someone to build and develop there," Sabillion said..
Last week, Erik Patrick who rents an apartment one block north of the Erie Street homes, said he was opposed to the demolition.
"I'm not particularly into it. They are sticking modern looking houses in the middle of rows of old houses and it does not look good," Patrick said.
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