Transwestern Eyes Industrial Redevelopment in Addison

A quiet pocket of single-family homes in suburban Addison is shaping up to be the latest frontline in Chicagoland’s industrial expansion wars.

Residents of 53 Trails Estates, an unincorporated neighborhood east of Route 53 and south of Army Trail Boulevard, contend that Transwestern Development is targeting the area for a potential industrial or commercial project, the Daily Herald reported. The push sparked months of organizing, public meetings and neighbor-on-neighbor tension in a community many residents insist was never meant to be considered a teardown.

The neighborhood, which includes more than 90 homes, sits just outside Addison’s municipal boundaries, in a village that already boasts one of the largest industrial parks in Illinois. UPS, Pampered Chef and Nabisco all have a presence nearby, making the land increasingly attractive to developers chasing logistics and flex demand along major transportation corridors.

Transwestern has not publicly detailed a proposal, and a spokesperson could not be reached for comment. But residents told the outlet that outreach by a commercial real estate firm working on the developer’s behalf has made it clear that the area is being explored for industrial redevelopment.

At a Dec. 15 village meeting, Addison Village Manager Joe Maranowicz said there is no formal proposal before the board, and no action is underway. Village staff told the developer that any next steps would require interest from all homeowners — a high bar in a neighborhood that is anything but unified.

“Last thing we want is a community to be divided amongst each other,” Maranowicz said at the meeting, acknowledging that some residents want to sell, while others are firmly opposed.

The neighborhood’s appeal lies precisely in what industrial development would erase: mature trees, large lots and decades-long ties among neighbors, some of the residents contend. Several residents have lived there for 30 or 40 years. Others moved in more recently, drawn by the area’s mid-century homes and low-key suburban character.

Supporters of redevelopment, however, argue that Addison can’t afford to turn its back on growth. With industrial demand still strong and neighboring municipalities competing for employers and tax base, some residents see a partial or phased development as a reasonable compromise.

The dispute echoes past battles in the O’Hare area, where longstanding neighborhoods like Mohawk Manor were eventually bought out and demolished for industrial projects. Those scars loom large for residents now facing similar uncertainty.

The standoff has for now left 53 Trails Estates in limbo. Yard signs, custom T-shirts and even Christmas lights signal opposition, while others quietly weigh offers and future possibilities.

— Eric Weilbacher