Developer withdraws plans to redevelop Wheeler House as social events venue

ST. CHARLES – A developer has dropped plans to turn a house near St. Charles that is thought to be part of the Underground Railroad into a social events venue that could accommodate up to 240 guests at a time.

Residents living near the property at 4N262 Route 31 had voiced concerns about the traffic and noise the venue would generate. The property is located near the St. Charles Park District's Ferson Creek Park and the Kane County 2040 Land Resource Management Plan designates the area as rural residential. The proposal was recently before the Kane County Zoning Board of Appeals for review.

But Curt Hurst, owner of Frontier Development, said the decision to drop the plans was a timing issue. Frontier had plans to purchase the house, built in 1851 by James Wheeler, from current owners Ted and Tanya Meyers.

"They're going to list their home for sale as a residence, so that project is not going to go forward," Hurst said. "From a business perspective, the timing didn't line up with what everybody's needs are, ours and the current residents."

His company recently purchased the building that houses the new Flagship on the Fox upscale sports bar in downtown St. Charles. Pollyanna Brewing Company plans to open later this year in the southern half of the structure.

Frontier also recently purchased the Arcada building in downtown St. Charles and has plans to build a two-story restaurant and office building at the northeast corner of Second Street and Illinois Street as part of the First Street redevelopment project in downtown St. Charles.

Residents opposed to the plans for the house had recently started a website, protect31.com, in an attempt to derail the project. But Hurst believes that a solution could have been worked to address their concerns.

"I've been doing real estate development for 30 years," he said. "And I've been involved in a lot of projects that we had things to work through. I'm pretty confident that eventually we could have worked through all those things, with the county and with the homeowners. There's always a path."

Hurst and his wife, Anna, live next to the house. The proposal was to combine the two properties as part of the project.

Dave Bergeson, who lives north of the property, had several concerns about the proposal. He is happy the project is not moving forward.

One of his concerns was that the project would create more traffic problems in the area.

"I drive along Route 31 pretty frequently," he said. “I live on Old Quarry Road, so I have to take Route 31. In the winter, especially going around the curve right where the entrance to that house is, it's already nasty. It's easy to slide around on."

The Underground Railroad was the system established by abolitionists to aid escaping slaves. In 1901, Wheeler's son wrote an article where he states he remembers "freedom seekers" coming to the house.

St. Charles History Museum Executive Director Alison Costanzo said she was confident the house was part of the Underground Railroad.