Naperville leaders signal support for Pulte Homes development instead of data center plan

Naperville City Council members and some neighbors are largely receptive to the prospect of more than 250 new homes on a vacant property at the north end of town, a far cry from the controversy over a data center plan for the same site.

Two months ago, council members denied the Karis Critical proposal by a 6-1 vote after Naperville became ground zero for the debate over data centers, facilities that require large amounts of electricity.

By contrast, officials are signaling they like the idea of residential development there instead.

“I think this is what the neighborhood was looking for, the surrounding communities and the majority of the council. So I think we're on a good path here,” Councilman Patrick Kelly said.

The property owner asked for an informal concept review from the council. The owner has also tapped Pulte Homes as its development partner. A preliminary site plan shows 262 units — both townhouses and rowhomes — to the south of the Nokia complex. Nokia sold the property near Naperville and Warrenville roads for $4.75 million in 2023.

“As disappointed as we were with the decision on the data center proposal, the property owner’s No. 1 priority has always been and continues to be now, now more urgently than ever, to put this property to its highest and best use under the city zoning regulations,” said attorney Peter Friedman, whose firm represents Franklin 1960 Lucent Lane, LLC, the owner.

It would continue a recent trend of residential development in the area. M/I Homes is building a luxury enclave of townhouses on a former office property. Pulte also developed the nearby Naper Commons neighborhood.

The vacant property is at the eastern entrance to the city’s I-88 corridor — home to some of its top employers. But much of the city’s “Innovation Corridor” is “underperforming relative to its potential,” according to a report released by the Naperville Development Partnership. The study described a vision for a “live-work-play” environment along I-88.

“So it sets up the idea of some places along the corridor, converting to a residential component, and I think with some of the history behind this property and where it's at today, I would be supportive of that transition,” Mayor Scott Wehrli said.

However, he also stressed the importance of a corridor comeback.

“As for the rest of the corridor, I think there might be a piece or two left that could potentially go to a residential use,” the mayor said. “But let's face it, we've added going on four digits of additional housing units in that area on the north side of town, and there's going to be a point in time where we have to double down and focus on the commercial development that needs to take place up there for it to thrive.”

Councilwoman Mary Gibson also said she wants to “be sensitive to the risk of adding more and more residential creep.”

“But I think this is a great proposal for this transitional location, especially with Naper Commons there,” she added.

Councilman Benny White asked the builder to consider some workforce housing so that “folks that make our community special have an opportunity to actually live in this community.”

Naper Commons resident Priya Vincent supports the residential development and called the data center project “fundamentally incompatible with our neighborhood.”

“I was seriously concerned about public health, environmental impact and our community well-being, concerns that affect me personally,” she said. “What matters to me now is that Franklin Partners listened.”