Naperville Could Get 262 Townhomes Where a Data Center Was Rejected. Here’s What’s Proposed

NAPERVILLE— A vacant property that spent much of the past year at the center of a controversial data-center debate could soon head in a completely different direction.

Pulte Home Company is proposing 262 market-rate townhomes and rowhomes at 1960 Lucent Lane, near the northwest corner of Warrenville and Naperville roads. The approximately 40.9-acre former Nokia campus property is scheduled for a public hearing before the Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday, October 7 at 6 p.m.

The contrast is what makes the proposal especially notable. Earlier this year, Naperville rejected plans for a data center on the same property. Now the site could become an extension of the residential Naper Commons community immediately to the north.

From Data Center to 262 Homes

In January, the Naperville City Council voted against the conditional-use request needed for the proposed Karis Critical Data Center at 1960 Lucent Lane. The property owner subsequently shifted toward residential development, which also aligns more closely with Naperville's Land Use Master Plan designation for the site as Medium Density Residential. Naperville City Council

Pulte, which is also behind neighboring Naper Commons, is now proposing the Towns at Naper Commons.

The latest plan calls for 262 homes across 56 buildings, at approximately 6.5 dwelling units per acre. That is considerably below the city's Medium Density Residential guideline of up to 12 units per acre. Roughly half of the property would remain open space, including stormwater areas, parks and resident courtyards.

The housing would include multiple building styles. Current plans show two-story townhomes with front-facing garages and three-story rowhomes with rear garages. Some rowhomes would include habitable attic space or rooftop features that technically make them four stories under city code, although the proposed height remains below the district's 40-foot limit.

Anticipated home prices have been reported at approximately $515,000 to $680,000, with floor plans ranging from roughly 1,858 to 2,771 square feet depending on the product type.

This Is More Than a Simple Rezoning Request

The property is currently zoned ORI, or Office, Research and Light Industry, so residential construction cannot simply begin.

Pulte is requesting a rezoning to R2, Single-Family and Low Density Multiple-Family Residential, along with a conditional use allowing townhomes. The proposal also requests several variances involving setbacks, building-height measurement and parkway landscaping. City staff has specifically raised concerns about the requested reduction in required parkway trees.

The current plan does not include retail or commercial space, despite earlier discussion about whether amenities such as a coffee shop, restaurant or gym could be incorporated into redevelopment of the property.

Instead, the proposal focuses entirely on homeownership. Pulte says the community is intended for buyers including young professionals, first-time buyers, established households and downsizers who want access to Naperville and the I-88 employment corridor.

There are also no designated affordable units in the current proposal. However, 177 of the 262 homes, or about 68%, are designed to meet the project's visitability standards.

Why This Site Matters for Naperville

The larger story goes beyond 262 townhomes.

The property was once part of the Nokia campus and previously contained a 516,000-square-foot office building, which was demolished in 2024 after prolonged vacancy. Its evolution reflects a broader question facing many suburban communities: what should happen to large office and corporate properties that no longer have the same demand they once did?

At this location, Naperville could move from office land to residential land.

That transition has already started nearby. City planning documents note that parts of the surrounding area have shifted from office uses toward housing, with the existing Naper Commons townhomes immediately north of the property.

The proposed community would also include sidewalks and a multi-use path around open space and stormwater areas. Pulte has been coordinating with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and Naperville Park District regarding connections and recreation.

For buyers, adding 262 ownership opportunities would also bring another sizable townhome option to a Naperville market where attached housing continues to attract buyers looking for more space than a condo without taking on all the maintenance of a traditional detached home.

What Happens Next?

The project is still proposed, not approved.

The Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission will hold the public hearing on October 7 at 6 p.m. at Council Chambers, 400 S. Eagle Street. The commission will consider the rezoning, conditional use and requested variances.

Even if the commission recommends approval, additional pieces of the plan, including the preliminary subdivision plat and marketing-signage request, would still require City Council review before the development can move forward.

So 262 homes are not guaranteed yet.

But less than a year after Naperville rejected a data center at this location, the conversation around 1960 Lucent Lane has shifted dramatically from servers and industrial infrastructure to townhomes, courtyards and new neighbors.

That alone makes tomorrow's hearing one worth watching.

Considering a Move to Naperville or the Western Suburbs?

New communities can expand buyers' options, but comparing new construction with existing homes involves more than the base price. Buyers should consider HOA responsibilities, property taxes, upgrades, parking, commute, outdoor space and the surrounding development plan before deciding which property offers the better fit.

The Cory Tanzer Group at Option Premier helps buyers compare housing opportunities throughout Naperville and the Western Suburbs, including new construction, townhomes and established communities.

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