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Courthouse Square fight in Wheaton comes to city council meeting

Wheaton residents angry over a developer’s bid to bring an assisted-living facility downtown, a far cry from the condominiums they were promised when they bought their high-end properties in the revamped former DuPage County Courthouse, took their fight to city hall Monday night.

About 45 people who live at the complex, at the northwest corner of Naperville Road and Willow Avenue, attended the city council meeting. They argued that the facility would decrease property values and that many of them had bought the properties with the understanding that Focus Development Inc. would develop the 5.6-acre lot strictly residential.

But council members said they had yet to see the Northfield-based company’s bid to change the plan.

As it stands now, a metal shell of what was to be the second of a series of three midrise buildings now sits at the site. Focus officials asked for a change to its development plan, which originally called for housing units in the old courthouse and three residential buildings, as well as a cluster of townhouses on the site.

In 2005, the city created a tax increment finance district and borrowed $7.7 million to help prop up the site’s $90 million renovation project.

But earlier this year, Focus approached the city because of slumping sales at the site and said an investor wanted to bring an assisted-living facility to the property. Officials for Focus were not available for comment. However, in March, they said they would not comment on the matter until an official decision comes forth from the city council.

Resident Bob Gideon said the initial plan was a deciding factor in some people buying properties in both the courthouse and the first residential building. He questioned whether Focus officials had been honest with prospective buyers about their new plan, noting that the Courthouse Square website continues to promote Focus’s original plan and does not mention the assisted-living facility.

“That is not what I would call full disclosure,” Gideon said. “Maybe I’d even call it a bait-and-switch. There may be no legal requirement (to provide the information) but there sure as heck is an ethical requirement.”

In the weeks leading up to the meeting, council members and Mayor Mike Gresk received dozens of emails from residents urging the city to reject the plan.

After eight residents spoke out against the plan, Councilwoman Jeanne Ives said that it would be premature to discuss a potential proposal that has not made it to the city council. However, she also said the fact remains that a tax increment financing district paid for the original site work and that her decision would be based on what is best for all Wheaton taxpayers.

“I appreciate the comments you made (Monday),” she said. “But as it stands right now, the taxpayers have subsidized your luxury condos for years.”

Wheaton residents fight plans for old courthouse property