HIGHLAND PARK, IL — A joint venture between Chicago-based Habitat and M/I Homes of Chicago announced it has closed on the former Solo Cup Company site in Highland Park, where the developers plan a 227-residence for-sale townhome community.
The 28.6-acre property at 1660 and 1700 Old Deerfield Road, located between Route 41 and Ridge Road, has been vacant since 2009 after the Solo Cup Company moved its headquarters to Lake Forest and its factory out of state.
According to officials, the property is planned for a residential neighborhood with townhomes, preserved open space, landscaped parkways and community amenities. The joint venture is moving forward with permitting and pre-construction activities, with groundbreaking on The Bowery of Highland Park anticipated this summer.
“This closing is an important step forward for a project that has involved more than a year of coordination with the city and community stakeholders,” said Matt Fiascone, president of Habitat. “With the site acquisition complete, we’re focused on advancing construction and delivering much-needed housing and long-term value to Highland Park.”
M/I Homes will lead construction and marketing efforts for the community, according to the announcement.
“The Bowery of Highland Park represents the level of thoughtfully designed new-construction housing we know is in high demand in established suburban locations such as Chicago’s North Shore,” said Rick Champine, area president of M/I Homes. “Already, we’ve had significant early interest in the community and expect that will only grow as site work begins and progress on the development visibly moves forward. We look forward to transforming this long-underutilized property into a carefully planned neighborhood that aligns with the preferences of today’s homebuyers.”
The approved redevelopment plan calls for 48 townhome buildings comprising 227 three- and three-bedroom-plus-den residences with transitional-style exteriors. Each home will include an attached two-car garage, with additional street parking throughout the development.
Planned amenities include a resident clubhouse with an outdoor pool, a dog park, a publicly accessible tot lot and pedestrian paths connecting the community to surrounding neighborhoods.
Of the 227 residences, 34 homes will be offered to qualifying individuals and families in accordance with Highland Park’s Inclusionary Housing Plan, according to the announcement.
The developers described the site as one of the few remaining large-scale residential redevelopment opportunities in Highland Park. A groundbreaking ceremony is anticipated this summer.
Construction is expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete, according to The Habitat Company.
"They say that a city growing is a city progressing, and I look forward to meeting our new neighbors," Mayor Nancy Rotering said.
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