A Chicago real estate developer is proposing a residential development at Batavia’s old Ollman Property, a 12.5-acre site between the Fox River and North Washington Avenue.
Joe Truesdell of Raelen Homes told the Batavia City Council recently that the wooded property poses several development challenges, including a 50-foot drop in the slope of the property from Illinois Highway 25 to the river.
Because of the constraints, the developer dismissed the idea of building single-family homes in favor of building one to three midrise, multifamily residential buildings.
Truesdell said the plan would use only about 4 acres, retaining the natural character of the balance of the site.
Several aldermen, however, said that the suggested density of as many as 150 units was too intense for the area.
