Frequently Asked Questions

Old Town Redevelopment Site #2 is a City-owned property at the northeast corner of Batavia and Warrenville Roads. The site was previously home to a gas station and convenience store that closed in 2016.

The gas station was not profitable and had struggled for decades. Environmental contamination and floodplain constraints made private redevelopment unlikely without City involvement.

The City purchased the property in 2020 to move forward with redevelopment that the private market could not accomplish on its own. The goals were to clean up environmental contamination, support redevelopment in Old Town, and create future public open space along the river.

Since acquiring the property, the City has:

• Removed underground fuel tanks and the gas station canopy
• Completed environmental cleanup to residential standards
• Invested more than $2 million in acquisition, remediation, utilities, and streetscape improvements
• Prepared the site for redevelopment

The Illinois EPA issued a “No Further Remediation” letter in September 2024.

Cleaning the site to residential standards allows for housing and public use. Without City involvement, cleanup likely would have met only minimal commercial standards, leaving contamination capped beneath pavement.

The proposed redevelopment includes:

• A three-story mixed-use building
• Retail and restaurant space on the first floor
• Residential units on upper floors
• Outdoor gathering space and public open space
• Public parking and pedestrian access to future riverfront open space

All development must comply with Warrenville By Design standards.

In 2025, the City issued a Request for Proposals. Proposals were reviewed through interviews and reference checks. Denver Capital was selected as the preferred developer based on experience with mixed-use developments and alignment with the City’s vision for Old Town.

The purchase price reflects the City’s long-term investment, not a profit-driven transaction.

The City has invested more than $2 million to acquire, clean up, and prepare the site. The goal is to transform a blighted property into a productive development that creates long-term value for the community.

The City will not transfer the property until:

• All zoning and subdivision approvals are obtained
• A development agreement is executed

If the developer does not move forward, the City has the option to take the property back. The developer has also committed to not requesting additional financial incentives.

Redevelopment of the site will:

• Return the property to the tax rolls
• Generate new property and sales tax revenue
• Support small businesses
• Add housing options
• Strengthen Old Town as a destination

Before City acquisition, the site generated about $3,500 per year in City property taxes. Redevelopment will significantly increase that amount.

The project will help replenish TIF District #3 before it expires in 2036. TIF funds can then be reinvested into infrastructure and future development projects in the district.

Construction can move forward after zoning approvals and execution of a development agreement. Timing will be shared as milestones are reached.

Project updates, meeting agendas, and background information are available on the City’s website. Residents are encouraged to attend City Council meetings and follow City communication channels for updates.