On October 18, a family in the West Chicago community received a notice that the City of West Chicago would be taking them to court for the greenhouse that they had built from scratch in their backyard.

The news came as a surprise, as Dan and Jody Bovey, long-term residents of West Chicago originally received an approved permit to build a greenhouse in their backyard on December 1, 2020. Thus, construction began for their greenhouse in 2021. 

The family wanted the greenhouse in their yard so they could grow their own fruits and vegetables. Also, to house delicate plants and keep plants safe in the wintertime. 

“Vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, green beans. Fruits like berries, ornamental plants. Some things will stay in the dome. Some things will start in the winter and get planted outside in the spring. We have an avocado tree and a couple citrus trees in there now. We hope they’ll bear fruit, but we are still learning,” Dan Bovey said.

The permit was renewed on July 18, 2022; however, when the family applied for a renewal this year, they were denied. The Boveys received a notice on October 18 that the City of West Chicago was taking them to court for failure to obtain a new permit within 30 days of the previous permit expiring. The notice ordered the family to remove the greenhouse entirely and restore their yard to its original stature. 

Since then, the family has been working with lawyer Jeff Jacobson. The Boveys are trying to work with the City of West Chicago in the hopes that they will withdraw the case. 

“We hired a lawyer, Jeff Jacobson, to defend us. We are asking the community to ask the mayor and City Council to vacate the case against us and renew the permit,” Dan Bovey said. 

Community members have been rallying behind the Boveys and supporting them through the lawsuit. A Facebook group called “Savethegreenhouse” has grown in popularity and now has 153 members.

Rebecca Ann Holmes, a member of this Facebook group, is planning to print signs that supporters of the greenhouse can place in their front yards.

Mayor Pineda was contacted by the Wildcat Chronicle via email on November 8, but did not respond as of publication.

“The matter in which you seeking comment is currently pending litigation, and as such, City officials are not able to speak about it.  In fact, I was informed that the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) presiding over this case specifically stated that the parties are only to communicate through their lawyers and in the hearing itself.  The City will not disobey or disrespect the directive that the ALJ issued,” Michael Guttman, city administrator, said to the West Chicago Voice on Nov. 1.

On November 6, community members appeared at the City Council meeting and presented an 800-person petition calling on the city to abandon their intentions of making the Boveys tear down the greenhouse.

The following morning, the City of West Chicago posted a “No Work” notice on the Boveys’ door.

Since then, the family has decided to make a collage of art that promotes the community’s efforts to save the greenhouse, and they have placed the artwork around the “No Work” notice on their door.

“They have followed rules and they have evidence to prove it. They want to do everything by the rules and they just want to be treated fairly,” community member Lauren Wolfe said.

This story was updated to include additional quotes from community members. There is a further update to this story as well: for more information, visit “Boveys fined $20,000 for greenhouse“.