Houses proposed for former school site in Addison

Nearly a decade after buying the former Driscoll Catholic High School site, Addison soon could see the property redeveloped as a residential project.

Pulte Home Company LLC is seeking village approval to build 60 ranch and two-story houses on the former school site. The 22-acre parcel is on the southeast corner of North Lombard Road and Holtz Avenue.

If Pulte's project becomes a reality, it will be dubbed "The Highlands."

A Pulte representative told members of the plan commission last week that houses in the proposed development would range in size from about 1,700 square feet to 3,500 square feet.

The homes likely would sell in the low- to mid-$400,000s.

"This is a quality development," said Matt Brolley of Pulte Group. "We're proud about the project ... and the homes that we're choosing to offer here in Addison."

Addison acquired the property in September 2010, more than a year after Driscoll closed due to financial woes. The village bought the land from the Joliet Diocese for $2.9 million and then demolished the school building.

Since that time, three athletic fields on the property have been used by Addison Trail High School and local athletic clubs.

Pulte is asking the village to, among other things, rezone the land and approve the project as a planned development.

If the village board approves the project, construction could begin in July. Pulte would buy the land and build in two phases of 30 homes each.

Plans call for The Highlands to have two proposed entrances on Lombard while an existing access point off Holtz would be closed.

Landscaping would be added along both roads.

Neighbors raised concerns about traffic and flooding during the plan commission meeting on May 13.

Plan commissioners, meanwhile, recommended several conditions, including wider streets and the addition of a park.

The project is expected to be reviewed next month by the village board's building, zoning and development committee.