Like many of its suburban counterparts, Roselle finds it is time to turn inward. The northwest suburb faces a new century with borders stretched to the limits, as it looks to redevelop its town center with new housing.
The little town that grew up around a commuter railroad line boasted only 1,000 residents back in the early 1950s, a number that had swelled to nearly 24,000 in the last census. Over those years, Roselle has managed to produce a diverse housing stock.
“I’ve lived in the village since 1953, and our diversity in housing has always been something the village has wanted to maintain,” said former village president Joseph Devlin, who serves on the village board.
“We don’t have all $100,000 or $400,000 houses. There are starter homes and a majority of our residents stay and move up into bigger, more expensive homes.
“The new condos we’re building are also attracting residents who raised families in the village and want to stay here after they downsize.”
Plans for the downtown area include major condominium developments and retail stores, along with a new Metra station that is in the midst of construction.
Community development director Patrick Watkins says that for the future, the vision of the village is “about offering housing alternatives that currently aren’t available.
“Ten years ago, there weren’t anywhere near as many condos as there are now, but there has been a change in tastes,” Watkins said.
Mayor Gayle Smolinski said that the high price of land, particularly in the portion of the village that is in Cook County, “warrants building some more expensive homes.
“The condo market is all about people downsizing and wanting to stay here, or young single or married couples wanting to be near the commuter line.”
Over the last few years, Pasquinelli Builders finished development of Roselle’s last major housing project by building 752 town homes.
Since then, single-family construction has dropped to only about 30 new homes a year, composed entirely of in-fill projects.
Watkins said the trend should continue for another three to four years.
“Unlike some places, we’re not in a teardown market yet,” he said. “Some people have large parcels where they can raze an existing building and subdivide it into four lots. Those are the kind of home projects we’re seeing.”
Village planner Ken Velharticky said new homes often average nearly 3,000 square feet and include many design features not found in existing homes barely a decade old.
“We’re seeing two and three car garages, extensive use of stone, and an increase in the number of bedrooms and bathrooms,” Velharticky said. “A lot of these homes are selling for $400,000 and up.”
A resident of Roselle for 25 years, builder Tom Robinson has constructed 70 homes in the village since 1995. Buyers typically live close by. “No one who has bought one our homes has lived farther than two miles away,” he said. Virtually all of them have kids. They’re baseball, soccer, like-the-school-district families that don’t want to move.”
Robinson said the average price of an existing home in Roselle currently is around $160,000. Those looking to move up typically spend 2 1/2 times that much.
“Our last project here involved seven homes, one ranch and six two-stories,” Robinson said. “All the homes had a least four bedrooms, and basements. The homes ranged from 2,700 to 3,500 square feet and cost up to $400,000.People want “big kitchens, two fireplaces, and a lot of light,” he said. “We build nine-foot ceilings and add a lot of windows.”
Currently under construction, the New Century Cove project by Carey Builders, in the north end of Roselle, will include 31 single-family homes, ranging in size from 3,200 to 4,200 square feet and priced from $470,000 to $850,000.
“Carey definitely represents the upscale market here in Roselle,” said Larry Cummins, a real estate broker who helps market Carey properties.
“The homes at the Cove feature 9-foot ceilings in the basement and first floors, three baths upstairs and two downstairs, three-car garages, upscale roofs, and usually hardwood floors on the main level.”
Carey also is developing a 24-condo, 18-townhouse project near the Cove on Nerge Road and has petitioned for another condo and townhome project at Nerge and Larson Lane.
Meanwhile, the village’s downtown area is poised for major redevelopment, an initiative that dates back more than a quarter century.
New Leaf Development is in the third phase of building Village Crossing, which, once completed, will include a total of 129 condos and 12,000 square feet of retail space.
Perry Janke of New Leaf said Village Crossing offers one bedroom units of 950 square feet, beginning at $147,900. The largest two bedroom with a den start at $240,000, consisting of 1,700 square feet.
“Once the retail stores are in place, people can walk to the cleaners, a diner or anywhere else,” Janke added. “Up to now, Roselle didn’t offer this type of housing. It’s necessary in order to support the downtown businesses as well as provide another housing option.”
To date, the village has spent $2.5 million dollars over a seven-year period to acquire land for its Town Center. Officials are reviewing plans offered by Teng Development LLC and the Gammonley Group/PPKS Architects to redevelop Roselle’s downtown.
The Teng group has proposed a town center project that would include 19,400 square feet of retail shopping that would extend from Main Street and flow over to Roselle Road.
A total of 48 condominium units, ranging from 1,000 to 1,380 square feet in size, areproposed, ranging in price from about $145,000 to $200,000.
The Gammonley Group proposal would include 48 condominium units and a “Shops at Main Street Station” that would include 29,700 square feet of retail space.
Village planner Velharticky believes both plans are similar and that the parking component represents the major difference. Total construction costs are expected to be $10 million to $12 million.
He said the most difficult aspect of the development will be to attract retailers
“We’re going to have to offer incentives on the land, waiving fees or something to attract commercial development,” he said. “Both developers are willing to do the residential component, but there’s some hesitation” about the retail aspect.
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Roselle facts
Population: 23,115
Schools: Nine elementary schools, four junior high schools, two high schools. Total enrollment 8,924, including students from neighboring communities.
IN TOWN OR NEARBY
Houses of worship: 17
Restaurants: 80
Country clubs: 9
Public golf courses: 6
Public tennis courts: 12
Public swimming pools: 4
