Consultants return reality check for Hubble School site

Consultants Wheaton hired to create a redevelopment plan for the former Hubble Middle School site considered whether a collection of high-end specialty stores could breathe new life into the downtown property.

But their analysis forced them to rethink that idea.

"If you read the papers, you hear the struggles - even on Michigan Avenue," said Stephen Friedman of S.B. Friedman and Co. "There's struggle in the retail area."

So while retail creates "an exciting destination for people," Friedman said a high-end retail development would be unrealistic for the roughly 22-acre parcel at Naperville and Roosevelt roads because of existing competition.

Friedman's remarks were made Monday night after a Wheaton City Council member shared his thoughts on the redevelopment options being considered for the property, owned by Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200.

"I guess I'm, to be very honest, a little bit disappointed in the array of choice," Councilman Phil Suess said. "I do think there's interest in it (the site) being a gateway - something that has some architectural presence to it. I'm not really seeing that here."

For example, there has been some talk about the possibility of wholesale giant Costco constructing a 135,000-square-foot warehouse store.

Suess said Costco would be a destination for area shoppers. However, it also would create a lot of traffic and affect nearby homeowners.

"There's real problems there with the compatibility with the neighborhood," Suess said.

In addition to Costco, officials are reviewing three other redevelopment options for the property, including a residential development, a grocery store and movie theater, or a mixed-use development.

The consultants said they were trying to be realistic about what could be built on the property within the next five years.

Meanwhile, whoever redevelops the property would have to overcome the fact that more than 13 acres is in a floodplain. Structures would be limited to the nearly nine acres of higher ground, along Naperville Road.

When it comes to aesthetics, synergy with downtown and compatibility with the neighborhood, the only option that received positive marks in all three categories was a townhouse and condominium development. But it could be years before there's a demand for that type of housing.

As a result, several city officials said they don't believe a recommendation can be made until District 200 decides how long it's willing to wait to sell the property.

"The school district needs to decide whether they are ready to go forward with something," Councilman John Prendiville said, "or whether they want to wait."

Reality: Housing development favored, but no demand