Townhome development planned for former Solo Cup site

Chicago-based Habitat has announced a joint venture with M/I Homes of Chicago to develop The Bowery of Highland Park, a community of 227 for-sale townhomes on the former Solo Cup Company site in Highland Park. 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. In February, after multiple meetings and community feedback, the Highland Park City Council voted 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.

The approved plan includes 48 townhome buildings comprising 227 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.