Plan would turn St. Charles Judd house into apartments

The last time St. Charles viewed a plan to make use of the historic Raymond Judd house, it involved putting the former residence of one of early 20th-century America's primary cattle dealers out to pasture.

On Monday, aldermen viewed a new plan from a familiar brand not to raze the vacant home but turn it into four apartments.

The plan, called “Heritage Green,” comes to the city from part of the same development team working on the city's long-delayed First Street redevelopment.

In addition to converting the house, the team would build three new townhouse buildings, with three units each, to join the two townhouse structures that already exist on the site under different ownership.

Bob Rasmussen of JRD Development Inc. said his plan will bring smaller residential units than anything previously contemplated for the site. That will allow for more a natural look throughout the roughly 1-acre site.

“I think we will have tremendous green space,” Rasmussen said. “And the walk up will do justice to the mansion.”

The proposed plan will also provide two garage parking spaces per townhouse and 12 total spaces for the four apartments.

The plan breezed through the city's historic preservation committee and the plan commission with no opposition. Aldermen, meeting as the planning and development committee, also unanimously approved the project Monday night without additional comment.

That only leaves an official vote by aldermen for final approval. The city council will take that vote later this month.