Loretto Club plans moving forward in Wheaton

WHEATON – The Pulte Group will be able to move forward on its plans 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 April 3 unanimously voted to approve preliminary plans for the proposed Loretto Club as well as a development agreement with Pulte. The developer 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.

The final plans will come to the City Council for approval at a later date.

Prior to the vote, Wheaton Planning and Zoning Board member Ronald Almiron told City Council members he was disappointed the council did not thoroughly analyze the "substantive problems" with Pulte's plans. He called for the City Council to continue working with Pulte in order to save the two historic structures on the site and lower the project's density.

"We need to preserve history," he said. "History is a foundation of progress."

Vince Rosenova, the attorney representing Pulte, had 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 9,400 square feet.

The upscale ranch-style houses will be geared for the 55-plus baby boomer crowd, he previously had told city officials.

Wheaton Historic Commission Chairwoman Nancy Flannery had voiced concerns about the mansion being razed as part of the project. 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.

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.