An Illinois developer and his architect have revealed plans for 50 paired villa units with rear garages near a nine-acre conservation area at the former Broadmoor Country Club in Merrillville.
Mokena architect Charles Smith told the Merrillville Plan Commission on March 7 that original designs for what is now the Foxmoor subdivision located off U.S. 30 called for only 12 of 37 lots fronting the conservation area, which would include a passive park with a gazebo.
“This is a huge amenity. We thought this should be an amenity for everyone in the development, not just a handful,” Smith said.
The conservation area includes four ponds and a creek running through it. The area to be developed is west of the former Broadmoor County Club building.
Smith said there would be no garages at the front of the units and an access road to reach the garages in the back. He said this would allow porches and other additions to be built at the front.
There would be three types of villas: A, a larger, 2-story unit with a large master bedroom suite and two smaller bedrooms; B, a 3-bedroom ranch unit, and C, a 2-bedroom semi-starter unit. He said prices would range from about $130,000 to more than $175,000.
He and developer James Paul of the Alps Group in Illinois are looking at combining a ranch with a 2-story or all ranches in various units, he said..
“It will be more based on the market,” Smith said.
“We wanted to create something unique,” Paul added.
Plan commission members voiced their support for the concept and suggested the developer take the necessary steps to get on the April plan commission workshop and regular meeting agendas.
“This will be a great project,” said Councilman Shawn Pettit, D-6th, commission president.
“I’ve been waiting for you guys to walk through the doors for 12 years now,” said commission member Brian Dering. “You won me right out the gate with your preserving the wetlands there.”
Dering has been an outspoken opponent of garages at the front of houses.
Councilwoman Marge Uzelac, D-4th, whose ward encompasses the project, said she also likes the proposal as presented.
“It’s upscale. I don’t think you’ll have a problem selling the units,” she said.
But Uzelac also noted that there are a number of issues that need to be discussed, such as drainage and approval from the Merrillville Conservancy District.
James Regan, of Energy Smart Homebuilders in Palos Park, Ill., had purchased about 176 lots altogether in the subdivision located at 4600 W. Lincoln Highway, which encompassed everything but the wetlands and commercial property. Some single family homes and duplexes have already been built..
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
