Approved by Highland Park in February, The Bowery of Highland Park will feature new homes, a resident clubhouse, dog park, publicly accessible tot lot and preserved open space with walking trails

Chicago-based Habitat, a leading U.S. multifamily developer and property manager, today announced a joint venture with M/I Homes of Chicago, one of the most active homebuilders in Chicagoland, to develop The Bowery of Highland Park, a community of 227 for-sale townhomes on the former Solo Cup Company site in Highland Park, Ill. The firms are scheduled to close on the property at 1700 Old Deerfield Road this spring and begin construction in the second half of 2026.

Habitat has been working with Highland Park to redevelop the approximately 28-acre former site of the demolished Solo Cup manufacturing facility into a residential community since October 2024. After a diligent vetting process, multiple meetings and community feedback, the Highland Park City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 9, 2026, to move forward with Habitat’s plan for the site, which calls for 227 townhomes, over 9 acres of preserved open space, a resident clubhouse, new landscaping and other traffic and infrastructure improvements.

“Ever since Solo Cup vacated the area almost 20 years ago, it has seemed like the best use of this site was to redevelop it as a residential neighborhood,” said Matt Fiascone, president of Habitat, in reference to the multiple proposals that had been floated for the site over the years, ranging from a community college to an industrial logistics hub. “It just took the right team with the right experience to shape a viable plan for a townhome development that would align with community priorities, respond to today’s housing demands and deliver lasting value to Highland Park and its residents.

“After the city approved our plan, we took into account current market conditions and the multiple conversations we had with Highland Park residents and council members, all of which guided us to determining a vibrant for-sale development that complements Highland Park’s character and offers much-needed housing options for a variety of buyers would provide the best long-term benefit,” Fiascone said. “The next step was partnering with a proven homebuilder with an extensive track record of bringing high-quality for-sale housing to suburban locations and that shared our vision for this project, which led us to M/I Homes.”

A national homebuilder with deep experience developing, building and marketing new-construction townhomes and single-family homes across the Chicago metropolitan area, M/I Homes consistently ranks among the most active in the market and currently has more projects in planning in Lake County than any other builder. M/I Homes completed townhome developments at nearby Sterling Place in Northbrook, The Villas at Link Crossing in Buffalo Grove and The Townes at Barclay in Lincolnshire.

“Working with Habitat feels very natural as we’re both rooted in delivering best-in-class legacy developments that meet market demand, but more importantly, we’re both committed to building communities residents are proud to call home for years to come,” said Rick Champine, area president of M/I Homes. “The Bowery of Highland Park is in our wheelhouse, as many of our newest communities, especially those in the northern suburbs, have involved reimagining infill parcels to bring new homes to locations where inventory is limited.

“We’re eager to bring that experience and insight to this joint venture in transforming a long-underutilized property into a residential neighborhood that reflects the preferences and lifestyles of today’s homeowners,” said Champine.

The former Solo Cup site presents a unique opportunity given the limited availability of developable parcels in Highland Park. With wetlands and trees running along its southern and western borders, the property is close to Red Oak Elementary School and nearby businesses, including many restaurants, a Jewel-Osco and Whole Foods Market. The development also offers easy access to the Edens Expressway.

The approved plan includes 48 townhome buildings comprising 227 thoughtfully designed three- and three-bedroom-plus-den residences with transitional-style exteriors. Each townhome will offer an attached two-car garage, with additional street parking available throughout the neighborhood. The plan also includes a resident clubhouse with an outdoor pool, in addition to a new dog park, a publicly accessible tot lot and welcoming pedestrian paths designed to encourage connection to surrounding neighborhoods. Of the 227 townhomes, 34 will be offered to qualifying individuals and families in compliance with Highland Park’s Inclusionary Housing Plan.

To join the First Look list for The Bowery of Highland Park townhomes and receive updates about the development, email SalesChicago@mihomes.com.

About Habitat:

Founded in 1971, Habitat is a full-service residential real estate company specializing in property management, acquisitions and development. One of the largest residential property developers and managers in the United States, with over $3 billion in assets and more than 10,000 units under management across multiple states, the company’s portfolio spans a range of property types, from mid- and high-rise condominium, apartment and adaptive reuse developments to senior and affordable housing communities. Headquartered in Chicago, with hundreds of employees throughout the U.S., Habitat is dedicated to improving the communities it serves through innovation and a commitment to excellence. For more information, visit www.habitat.com.

About M/I Homes:

M/I Homes, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading builders of single-family homes, having sold over 150,000 homes. The Company has homebuilding operations in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, Michigan; Tampa, Sarasota and Orlando, Florida; Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, visit www.mihomes.com.