New for-sale community will offer sought-after new-construction option on Chicago’s North Shore

M/I Homes, one of the top homebuilders in the Chicagoland area, announces it has broken ground on The Bowery of Highland Park, its joint venture with Chicago-based Habitat to redevelop the former Solo Cup Company site in Highland Park, Ill., as a 227-residence for-sale townhome community.

Located at 1700 Old Deerfield Road, The Bowery of Highland Park will transform the approximately 28-acre Solo Cup parcel into a residential neighborhood featuring townhomes, more than 9 acres of preserved open space, landscaped parkways and community amenities. The Highland Park City Council approved the joint venture’s plan for the site in February 2026, and M/I Homes and Habitat closed on the land acquisition in May.

“This is a highly anticipated moment not only for our entire development team, which has worked so hard to shape a viable plan for this site and shepherd it to this point, but also for community members and stakeholders who will now see physical progress as we reimagine a parcel of land that has stood vacant for nearly 20 years,” said Rick Champine, area president of M/I Homes, which is leading construction and marketing efforts for the community. “The Bowery of Highland Park was conceived to be a seamless addition to the surrounding Highland Park community and meet the high demand for new homes on Chicago’s North Shore. With construction now underway, we expect the strong early interest we’ve already had from prospective buyers will grow exponentially.”

A ceremonial groundbreaking held on July 28, which was attended by representatives from M/I Homes and Habitat as well as Highland Park city staff and officials, celebrated the start of land development on the vacant site.

“Reaching this groundbreaking milestone reinforces Habitat’s decision to form a joint venture partnership with a highly experienced homebuilder like M/I Homes,” said Matt Fiascone, president of Habitat. “This is an exciting moment for the project, and we look forward to The Bowery of Highland Park delivering much-needed housing opportunities to Chicago’s North Shore.”

Construction on townhomes will begin by October, with first deliveries expected in spring 2027. Sales will begin later this year, with pre-sales appointments in October giving prospective buyers opportunities to preview the community.

When complete, The Bowery of Highland Park will include 48 townhome buildings comprising 227 three- and three-bedroom-plus-den residences with transitional-style exteriors. Three available floor plans range from 1,747 to 2,086 square feet, with prices starting from $749,990. The three-story designs all feature a first-floor flex room, island kitchens, open-concept living space, and a balcony off the breakfast/dining area. Each home will have an attached two-car garage, with additional street parking incorporated throughout the development.

“Two of our plans feature a rear-load garage while the third design has a front-load garage, which adds variety and visual interest to the neighborhood along with the homes’ natural cedar columns at the main entries, architectural gables and a sophisticated color palette of contrasting light and dark gray,” said Cheryl Bonk, vice president of sales and marketing for M/I Homes. “Inside, buyers will find the first-floor flex space is an ideal opportunity to tailor the home to whatever feature will complement their lifestyle best, whether that be a den for remote work, a guest room, a play area for young children or a hangout space for teens.”

Of the 227 residences, 34 homes will be offered to qualifying individuals and families in accordance with Highland Park’s Inclusionary Housing Plan.

Residents of The Bowery of Highland Park will also have access to community amenities including a resident clubhouse with an outdoor pool, a dog park, a publicly accessible tot lot, and pedestrian paths connecting the community to surrounding neighborhoods.

The site is close to restaurants and retailers, including Jewel-Osco and Whole Foods Market, as well as the Edens Expressway. Just minutes from downtown Highland Park and its eclectic mix of boutiques, restaurants and neighborhood amenities, The Bowery of Highland Park provides convenient access to Rosewood Beach, Ravinia Festival, Chicago Botanic Garden, West Ridge Park, Sunset Valley Golf Club, Northmoor Country Club and Kennedy Park. Bordered by preserved wetlands and mature trees along its southern and western boundaries, the property represents one of the few remaining large-scale residential redevelopment opportunities in Highland Park.

To join the First Look list for The Bowery of Highland Park townhomes and receive updates about the development, visit www.mihomes.com/thebowery.

Homes at all M/I Homes communities come standard with the builder’s industry-leading 10-Year Transferable Structural Warranty, which allows buyers to purchase with confidence and adds value if the home is sold in the future. All homes are also Whole Home certified, an M/I Homes designation indicating the builder’s superior approach when constructing homes. Upon testing, an M/I home will receive a more favorable HERS® Index (Home Energy Rating System) than an Energy Star-certified home, which can save buyers upwards of 30% on their energy bills. A lower HERS Index means lower energy costs, and on average an M/I home achieves a HERS Index of 62, considerably lower than other resale homes and other builders in the market.

About M/I Homes:

M/I Homes, Inc., celebrating its 50th year in business in 2026, is one of the nation’s leading homebuilders of single-family homes. The Company has homebuilding operations in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, Michigan; Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers/Naples and Orlando, Florida; Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee.

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.