Townhouse community ready to roll on long inactive Solo Cup site in Highland Park

Development of the high-priority former Solo Cup site at 1700 Deerfield Road in Highland Park is officially underway.

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held this week for The Bowery at Highland Park, a 227-residence townhouse community described as a sought-after new construction option for the North Shore.

A joint venture of Chicago-based Habitat and M/I Homes Chicago, plans call for the 28-acre property to include more than 9 acres of preserved open space abutting Ridge Road.

Landscaped parkways, walking trails connecting to surrounding neighborhoods, a clubhouse with an outdoor pool, dog park and tot lot are other planned amenities.

Solo Cup moved its headquarters from Highland Park to Lake Forest in 2009 and closed manufacturing operation. The property was sold and by 2015 had been cleared.

As it sat inactive, development of the site became a priority and in February, the Highland Park City Council approved the joint venture’s plan. Neighbors objected early on, but the plan was revised to reduce the number of housing units from 262 to 227 and offer them for sale rather than rent.

The partners closed on the land acquisition in May.

“This is a highly anticipated moment not only for our entire development team, which has worked so hard to shape a viable plan for this site and shepherd it to this point, but also for community members and stakeholders who will now see physical progress as we reimagine a parcel of land that has stood vacant for nearly 20 years,” said Rich Champine, area president of M/I Homes, at the groundbreaking.

When complete, the Bowery of Highland Park will include 48 townhouse buildings made up of three- and three-bedroom-plus den residences ranging from 1,747 to 2,086 square feet.

Prices start at $749,990, according to M/I Homes. Thirty-four of the 227 townhouses will be offered to qualifying individuals and families in accordance with Highland Park’s Inclusionary Housing Plan, based on a family’s percentage of the area median income.

Construction will begin in October with first units available in spring.

“The Bowery of Highland Park was conceived to be a seamless addition to the surrounding Highland Park community and meet the high demand for new homes on Chicago’s North Shore,” Champine said.