Dist. 200 gives Hubble developer more time

The developer that bought the old Hubble Middle School in downtown Wheaton asked Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 for a little bit more time, and got it.

Chicago-based Bradford Equities LLC officials approached Superintendent Brian Harris two weeks ago to ask for a change to the sale agreement that will give them two more months to finish design work on the site and seek permits from the city.

The new deadline for that work is now Nov. 28.

Harris said at a special meeting Wednesday the request was not unusual and that the developer has indicated they do not expect to get anywhere near the final date.

“By no means do they think it'll go to Nov. 28,” he said. “They asked for two months just to not have to come back and ask for an additional extension. (The company) does not anticipate a delay.”

As they delay, the district moves closer to a public sale at the site that will sell off old equipment from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 14, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 15.

Representatives from Bradford have been working closely with city officials to craft a proposal that will allow it to move forward on permits for the 22-acre site, at the busy northwest corner of Roosevelt and Naperville roads.

The developer plans to bring a Mariano's Fresh Market grocery store to the prominent spot in the spring of 2013.

On June 30, the company bought the property from District 200 for $5,000,200 after efforts to sell the property at a 30-day, closed-bid auction and a subsequent live auction failed.

In the agreement, the school district required that Bradford submit permit applications within 90 days, a period of time that would have expired Wednesday.

But the board approved the amendment.

Harris said he was not sure what the obstacles were, but a large portion of the site sits within a flood plain.

“They have been working closely with Wheaton and the county of DuPage in regards to stormwater issues,” he said. “It's a temporary delay and will not create any further issues.”