DuPage Water Commission Buys Former Northbrook Golf Club

NORTHBROOK, IL — It's been closed for eight years, and several plans for the site have failed since then, but the site of the former Green Acres Golf Club may be moving forward with a new purpose. The DuPage Water Commission announced Wednesday it has closed on the purchase of the 127-acre parcel in Northbrook.

The DWC didn't release financial details of the deal, but Crain's Chicago Business is reporting the price tag as $80 million.

DWC called the acquisition a "critical step" for a possible future regional Lake Michigan source water project. The site at 916 Dundee Road is about 17 miles from DuPage County.

"This location is uniquely suited for our project, including ideal proximity to Lake Michigan, electric transmission facilities, and railroad and highway corridors," said James Zay, chairman of the DuPage Water Commission. "When we became aware that the property was available, we moved quickly to secure the site for the benefit of DuPage County residents and the larger suburban region."

Last year, the Northbrook Park District had announced it was in preliminary discussions with the developer and the Village of Northbrook regarding "what could be an exciting new open space and recreation opportunity" for the community at the site.

The property was owned by an investment group led by former David Kahnweiler, the former chief executive at Colliers Chicago. Kahnweiler's group had bought the property in 2018 for $9.8 million, reports Crain's.

RELATED: Northbrook Park District Exploring Future Of Former Green Acres Property

According to Zay, large development sites like Green Acres are "becoming increasingly rare" with data centers and distribution centers "exerting pressure on the market."

The DWC is seeking partners on the project, including other regional water wholesalers and suburban municipalities.