Big Housing Complex Planned In Villa Park

VILLA PARK, IL – Elmhurst has seen its share of debates over big apartment and condo projects.

It is not alone with such construction.

In neighboring Villa Park, a developer is building a seven-story, 348-unit apartment complex northeast of the local Metra station. It is being described as upscale.

The complex had been known as Garden Station, but is now called Eco Terra.

The developer, Burr Ridge-based Hawthorne Development Corp., says the complex is the largest project in the country to earn key environmental certifications.

The project is expected to include a fitness center, a swimming pool, a theater, a dog park, a dog grooming station and WeWork spaces on each floor.

Hawthorne says it has been at the forefront of sustainable development since the early 1980s.

Asked for the project's timeline, a spokesman said it would be ready by the end of 2024.

Over the years, Elmhurst has been encouraging downtown "transit-oriented" development for train commuters. Officials say downtown residents help nearby shops survive in a time when online shopping is becoming increasingly popular.

Opponents contend the big housing complexes are changing the character of the community and making downtown traffic more problematic.