Wheaton Park District to discuss Hubble development

Wheaton Park District will hold an informational session Saturday to field concerns and questions about the development at the former Hubble Middle School site.

The district mailed 270 invitations to residents and business people for the meeting at 10:30 a.m. in the second-floor auditorium of the DuPage County Historical Museum, 102 E. Wesley St.

While the meeting also is open to the general public, Executive Director Mike Benard said the museum’s auditorium only holds 100 people. As of Friday afternoon, 40 of the invited guests had said they will attend.

“The intent of the meeting is to educate the people directly adjacent the site,” Benard said.

In June 2011, Chicago-based Bradford Equities bought the 22-acre property from Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 for $5,000,200. As part of the sale, the school district included a condition that the developer collaborate with the park district on 13 acres that lie in a flood plain.

While Bradford plans to build a Mariano’s Fresh Market grocery store at the site by spring 2013, the district hopes to preserve the outdoor space and Hubble gymnasiums for recreational purposes. As part of a potential land swap agreement, the district would offer Bradford a corner of Central Park, 600 S. Main St.

The highly visible Hubble property on the corner of Roosevelt and Naperville roads already generates 94,000 user hours in both indoor and outdoor programs for the district.

“It’s a very positive development for all of Wheaton,” Benard said. “The public component will maintain a green buffer and maintain open space and maintain many, many, many opportunities for youth to use their leisure time wisely.”

During the meeting, Benard, a stormwater and construction engineer and Bradford Chief Financial Officer Chad Jones will address Hubble neighbors.

The meeting also will offer a presentation of project plans for the site in advance of a presentation at the Wheaton City Council planning session at 7 p.m. Feb. 13.