Warrenville is moving to sell a contaminated former gas station site it spent more than $2 million acquiring and preparing, after the City Council unanimously approved a deal with Denver Capital, LLC to build a three-story mixed-use development at the corner of Batavia and Warrenville Roads.
The council voted Feb. 17 to authorize a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the 1.39-acre city-owned parcel known as Old Town Redevelopment Site #2, according to a city civic alert. The site, at 28W244 Warrenville Road, housed a Phillips 66/Citgo gas station that closed in July 2016 after decades of unprofitability.
Denver Capital plans a building wrapping the corner with retail and restaurant space on the ground floor, residential units on the upper two floors, and outdoor gathering areas with pedestrian access to future riverfront open space, according to the city's project page. The number of residential units has not been disclosed.
The developer was selected through a Request for Proposals the city issued in April 2025. The city cited Denver Capital's experience with mixed-use projects in the western suburbs, strong reference checks and alignment with Warrenville By Design, a mixed-use and middle housing overlay adopted in August 2024.
Community and Economic Development Director Amy Emery presented Denver Capital as the preferred developer at the Feb. 2 council meeting, according to city records. The purchase price has not been made public. The city's FAQ page states the price reflects a long-term investment rather than a profit-driven transaction.
The approval does not transfer ownership. The city will hold the property until Denver Capital obtains zoning and subdivision approvals and executes a development agreement. If the developer does not move forward, the city retains the option to take the property back. Denver Capital has also committed to not requesting additional financial incentives.
After the Feb. 17 vote, the city said Denver Capital would submit formal development plans within 90 days. The project page listed a Plan Commission submittal target of spring or summer 2026, but that window appears to have passed with no public update on the city's website. Public hearings before the Plan Commission are still required before any construction can begin, with opportunities for resident comment at each stage.
The city purchased the property in 2020 after four years of negotiations. Workers removed underground fuel tanks and the gas station canopy in 2021 using Illinois Environmental Protection Agency funding. Cleanup to residential standards finished in May 2024, and the IEPA issued a No Further Remediation letter in September 2024.
Before the city acquired the site, it generated about $3,500 a year in city property taxes. Since the purchase, it has produced no tax revenue. The city says the development will return the parcel to the tax rolls and help replenish TIF District #3, which expires in 2036.
If approvals are granted, the city's target is to break ground by winter 2027.
