This article was edited with corrections on Nov. 7, 2011.
The renovation plans for Monroe Hall feature state of the art details and an environmentally friendly design, but one neighbor worries they also include a clear view into his yard.
John Fenn French, owner of a house located directly across from Monroe Hall, is suing Loyola over the planned renovations to Monroe Hall. According to French, Loyola’s plans to expand Monroe Hall violate an existing agreement between Loyola and the residents of Calhoun Street to protect the privacy of the neighborhood’s residents.
Alleged Agreement has history of about 50 years
The agreement goes back more than 50 years, to when French’s grandfather, Darwin Fenner, owned the house, he said. Loyola bought the houses that were once in the space in which Monroe Hall now stands. The university sought out the support of the residents across the street during the construction of Monroe Hall on previously residential property, according to French’s lawsuit
French said his grandfather rejected Loyola’s initial request and sat down with university officials and other residents of Calhoun Street to find a compromise.
“So what they decided is they would build it so that the building would face into the university,” French said. “His concern was the windows would intrude into the neighborhood as well as intrude into his family.”
French said that at the time, Loyola and the residents of Calhoun Street came to an agreement to limit the height of Monroe Hall as well as the windows on the side of the building facing Calhoun street.
“For anybody to disagree that there was an agreement would have to look at that building and say they decided to build a building with no windows,” French said. “It certainly validates the claim that Loyola was willing to not intrude into the neighborhood.” Although there are windows on the building facing Calhoun street from the fourth floor up.
French’s family has lived in the house since the 1940s. He bought the house from his parents in 2008.
“Loyola’s always been a good neighbor,” French said. “I’m not a rabble-rouser. I’m not against development. I’m thrilled that they’re going to do a renovation. Three years of construction’s going to be hardship but I’m good with that too. It’s just the windows. I think it’s terribly unreasonable.”
However, Loyola disputes this claim of there ever being an agreement to begin with; simply because this “agreement” was not recorded.
French, university discuss a compromise
French has been meeting with university officials and architects to find a compromise that fits both sides of the lawsuit.
Loyola’s Director of Public Affairs and External Relations Meredith Hartley said she could not comment on the lawsuit, but gave examples of current measures taken by Loyola to protect the privacy of Calhoun residents.
Hartley said that the loading dock currently located in Monroe Hall on Calhoun Street will be moved to the alley between Monroe and the Communications/Music Complex. Loyola will also remove the wall on Calhoun separating the sidewalk from Monroe Hall and replace it with a corridor of hedges and trees to provide a larger sidewalk and more green space.
Hartley said that architects have already had plans so that the inside of the building with the most activity will face campus while areas such as faculty offices will face Calhoun Street and have smaller windows. The windows facing Calhoun Street will also feature shutters to further block the view.
Despite this, French said Loyola has not adequately addressed his main concern—the privacy of his family.
“I’d be satisfied if they’d (the windows) be tinted. I’d probably be satisfied if they’d be raised above eye level,” French said. “There are a lot of things you could do besides making big, giant, numerous windows overlooking my children’s bedrooms. It’s offensive.”
Sam Winstrom can be reached at [email protected]
