Wheaton gives developer green light to raze buildings on Loretto Convent property

WHEATON – The Pulte Group has been given the green light to raze the buildings on the Loretto Convent property at 1600 Somerset Lane to make way for single-family homes.

The Wheaton City Council on March 20 unanimously voted to approve a draft development agreement with Pulte, which plans to build 48 single-family homes on the 15.7-acre property as part of the proposed Loretto Club development, following the demolition of all the structures on the site, including an 1897 mansion.

"This development meets all of our subdivision and zoning requirements," councilwoman Suzanne Fitch said, in voting to approve the agreement.

She said the project's density "is right in line" with what would have been required had the property been rezoned for residential use. The property will remain zoned as an institutional district.

"I would like to see more city-led initiatives to preserve Wheaton's history," Fitch said. "However, when we talk about historic preservation in the context of development, we have to acknowledge the fact that the city does not have an historic preservation ordinance."

Wheaton Mayor Michael Gresk noted residents several years ago rejected a measure to spend taxpayers' money to preserve the Wheaton Grand Theater. Councilman W. Thoreson Saline said the city's ordinances will help ensure the development will not adversely affect the neighborhood.

"I think our ordinances are like fences," he said. "A good fence makes a good neighbor."

Vince Rosenova, the attorney representing Pulte, told city officials the lot sizes would range in size from about 7,920 square feet to 15,000 square feet, with the average lot being an average of 9,400 square feet.

No zoning variances are being requested, Rosenova said. The upscale ranch-style houses will be geared for the 55-plus baby boomer crowd, he told city officials.

"Typically this age group no longer desires a traditional two-story home and the maintenance obligations that go along with that," he said.

A homeowners association would be responsible for exterior maintenance along with mowing and snow removal, Rosenova said.

Wheaton Historic Commission Chairwoman Nancy Flannery repeated her concerns about the mansion being razed as part of the project. The Pulte Group has offered the mansion for free to anyone wishing to move it, but no one has taken the firm up on the offer.

"I know I am repeating myself, but I have one real interest in all of this – the historic preservation of a very unique structure that has made and could make Wheaton very special," Flannery said, in addressing city officials. "I think we could actually do some work together to try and save the Jarvis Hunt House."

The House of Seven Gables was designed by Jarvis Hunt, who also designed the neighboring Chicago Golf Club clubhouse. The mansion is currently being used as a convent as part of the Loretto Center, a sponsored ministry of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a worldwide religious community of Catholic women. The Loretto Center operates a conference/retreat center.

After hearing no one voiced interest in wanting to acquire the House of Seven Gables, Flannery said she decided to put the building on Craigslist.

"And I have since gotten over 40 responses from people who might be interested," she said. "Some are definitely interested in moving it."

Flannery asked the City Council to hold off voting on the project while she continues to explore the possibility of whether the House of Seven Gables can be moved.

"I believe that every single one of you up there wants to save this house if you could," she said. "I don't doubt that one bit. And I'm asking for a chance to work with Pulte to see if maybe there is a person in this stack [of interested people] that can make me a happy person and save Seven Gables."

Landmarks Illinois, a statewide nonprofit group advocating for historic and architecturally significant buildings and places, also has called for the preservation of the House of Seven Gables.

Nine sisters remain on the property after 70 years of service, Pulte officials said.

"For the last 11 years, we the sisters have been aware of the fact that we have grown smaller than this large plat of land around us," Sister Kay Foley told city officials. "We're spending more money tending to the needs of the property and the facilities than we are to our ministries. In fact, some of our ministries have closed not because we wanted them to close, they closed because of attrition."

The Loretto Early Childhood Center closed in 2014 because of a diminishing student population, she said.

"This is our retirement," Foley said, in talking about the property. "Seventy years we have been here. We don't want to sell the property, but we have no choice. We have to. We have loved our years in Wheaton."