5th Avenue Property

At the July 16, 2024, City Council meeting, 5th Avenue was discussed under New Business on the meeting agenda. City Council directed staff to come back with a plan on the best use for the City-owned properties around the 5th Avenue train station.

At the Sept. 17, 2024, City Council meeting, staff suggested working with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and City Council authorized staff to proceed with the Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel (ULI TAP) application.

The ULI TAP application appeared on the agenda for the Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 City Council meeting (Item O.3) for Council review. The final TAP application submitted to ULI can be found here. 

In late February 2025, the City was notified that its application had been selected by ULI. The required TAP Agreement was executed by both the City and ULI on March 7, 2025. Since that time, City staff has been meeting with ULI to discuss the next steps needed to prepare for the panel. 

On May 6, 2025, representatives from ULI attended the City Council meeting to provide the Council and public with an overview of the upcoming 5^th Avenue TAP panel to be held on June 10-11, 2025. Following ULI’s overview, the Council endorsed the stakeholder interview list.

The City of Naperville is seeking the ULI panel’s input on the following questions pertaining to the 5^th Avenue Study Area: 

1. What is the most effective way to move forward with a redevelopment strategy for the non-transit uses on the site? For example, should parcels be offered separately or as one master lease/sale?  Is the City recommended to sell or lease and is there a recommended order for redevelopment to occur?
2. Other than new housing opportunities, what are the highest and best uses of the study area, or each sub portion of the study area?
3. How can new development on the site address Naperville’s known housing gaps, including missing middle, attainable and affordable housing, while meeting private development interests?
4. What amenities and design features should be incorporated into the new development to maintain and enhance the neighborhood’s unique character, and how can the study area provide additional or improved community amenities, including gathering spaces and event spaces?
5. How can the study area be redeveloped to function as a Transit Oriented Development and what are the best practices for developing around transit centers? How can this redevelopment encourage regular transit users to occupy any new residential units, thereby decreasing overall on-site parking demand?