Wheaton District 200: Former Hubble school site not yet for sale

With neighbors of the former Hubble Middle School property concerned about what could end up there, the owner of the site in downtown Wheaton insists it's currently not for sale.

Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 school board members said during a Wednesday night meeting they won't put the roughly 22-acre parcel at Naperville and Roosevelt roads on the market until after the city drafts a redevelopment plan for the site.

"It's not for sale until we know from the city what they are willing to allow to be built there," school board President Andy Johnson said. "Until that process is done, we don't have anything to really discuss."

A steering committee is expected to recommend one vision for the old Hubble property. In addition to big box retail, panel members are reviewing three other redevelopment options for the property, including a mixed-use development with townhouses, a specialty grocery store and a fitness center.

But the last time the steering committee met in May, several members said the panel can't make its recommendation until it knows how long District 200 is willing to wait to sell the property.

So school board member Rosemary Swanson, who also serves on the steering committee, has asked that the district clarify that point, possibly during the next school board meeting.

Meanwhile, city Councilman John Prendiville said the steering committee needs to meet again sometime in the near future and make a decision.

"Our charge was to come up with one option and recommend it," said Prendiville, who also serves on the steering committee.

City and school officials are clarifying the process because there's a growing number of residents voicing opposition to the possibility of Costco acquiring the property.

Even though Costco hasn't submitted any plans to the city, consultants Wheaton hired to help draft the redevelopment plan mentioned the wholesale giant several times during a recent presentation for the council. And Costco representatives have spoken to officials with the city and school district.

During Wednesday's school board meeting, a neighbor who lives across the street from the former Hubble property said she is "terrified" to think that a "big empty box" might be built there.

"I remember when it was a high school," said Carol Alleman, who has lived in her house for 20 years. "The traffic during the weekdays on Roosevelt and Naperville roads was a nightmare. You put a Costco there and you're looking at a seven-day-a-week nightmare."

Alleman asked school board members to consider doing a land swap with the Wheaton Park District, which has been using the former school's three gymnasiums and outdoor ball fields for sports programs.

"If you have any influence with anybody who's part of this decision-making process," she said, "I urge you to help them find a better vision for that property."