Pulte Homes Talks Meadow Plaza Redevelopment Plans with The Northbrook Report
By Colin Danley
The Northbrook Report recently sat down with Rob Getz, Vice President of Land Acquisition at PulteGroup, to discuss the developer’s vision for the proposed mixed-use project (recently branded as the Flats and Shops at North Branch). According to Getz, the development is an opportunity to bring a market-appropriate housing option to Northbrook while injecting new energy into the local retail landscape.
Getz noted that the project is designed to give Northbrookians a housing option that currently does not exist: the ability to downsize from a single-family home into a smaller footprint directly downtown, without having to relocate to another suburb. By providing an attractive option for empty-nesters and downsizers, Getz argues the project will open up the village's tight housing market, allowing younger families to purchase those single-family homes, plant roots, and invest in the community.
On the commercial side, Getz pointed to the aging state of much of the retail space currently available in town. Building new, modern retail space at the Meadow Plaza site, he stated, would energize the downtown area and generate momentum that could spur further redevelopment and commercial investment.
Pulte is looking to build on its recent track record in the village. Getz spoke favorably of the developer’s experience with its other current project in town - Reserve at the Brook - describing Pulte's experience working with the village, as well as residents of the adjacent Estates of Charlemagne neighborhood, as highly positive. He added that strong interest from potential buyers in that project was an indicator to Pulte that the Meadow Plaza project could be a good fit for the town.
Regarding the requested height variance for the six-story structures—Getz emphasized the economic benefits of the increased density. He explained that the height of the buildings allows for an additional 30 units across the three proposed residential buildings. This, he noted, will bring in more residents with disposable income to support downtown businesses and generate additional revenue for the Northbrook tax base, with a footprint that fits comfortably in with the rest of the town.
Pulte has commissioned several independent evaluations of the site, including a traffic study, a fiscal impact study, and an independent review of the project plan. Getz encouraged residents to review these documents for an objective perspective on the project. The developer has made these documents, along with project updates, publicly available at flatsatnorthbranch.com.