A proposal for 236 apartments near northeast Route 59 and 75th Street is one case where density could be a good thing, members of the Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission said Wednesday.

Commissioners unanimously endorsed plans for The Atlas at 2939 Audrey Ave., a development that will offer mainly studio and one-bedroom apartments in addition to amenities like a fitness center, pool and coworking space that appeal to young professionals and older adults.

BC Astoria, a subsidiary of the multifamily housing company Bridge Capital Partners, requires the approval of several variances, rezoning and a conditional use from the Naperville City Council before construction can begin.

The Atlas, an apartment complex proposed for 2939 Audrey Avenue in Naperville, will provide amenities such as an outdoor pool and patio. The apartment’s location would also be within walking distance of major retailers in the area. (OKW Architects)

Commissioners recommended approval on all fronts, with several saying the site has all of the infrastructure and amenities it needs to support a 5-story apartment building.

“Density works in certain locations,” Commissioner Mark Wright said, “and to me, this location is kind of a textbook example of where density works.”

The site is immediately north of a Whole Foods grocery store and near a variety of shops and restaurants on Route 59 and 75th Street. It’s two miles south of the Route 59 Metra station for accessibility to Chicago, and a Pace bus stop sits just west of the property. Harris Fawell Park is east of the site along Fort Hill Drive.

Project attorney Vince Rosanova said all of this makes the roughly 4.5-acre site the perfect place for apartment residents to call home. With all of the food, recreation and transportation options nearby, some residents may not need to own a car, he said.

“It’s actually a fantastic canvas to really enhance our housing supply,” Rosanova said.

Projected rents of $1,725 to $2,465 a month at The Atlas would meet standards of attainability based on household income in the Naperville area, Rosanova said, and 48 of the units would be designed to be easily adapted into accessible living spaces if needed.

The developer owns several other apartment communities in Naperville, including One Nineteen on Main, 5th Avenue Station, Belvedere Apartments, River Run Apartments, Grand Reserve at Naperville and the Arbors of Brookdale Apartments. Rosanova said a waiting list for one-bedrooms at the Belvedere, which was completed last spring, illustrates the need for more housing options like The Atlas.

“It really is a great location for this type of project,” Commissioner Derek McDaniel said. “The adaptability is fantastic. You have my support.”

Two nearby residents submitted written comments in opposition to the project, and one resident, Rosalyn Urbanek, voiced her concerns at the meeting.

Written objections from Joel Strassman and Kalpana Ganesan called the proposal out of character with townhouse residences nearby and sought reductions to the proposed 55-foot height of the building and density of the roughly 52 units per acre.

Urbanek said she would prefer a mixed-use plan, including some commercial development, to help decrease traffic from additional residents.

“A commercial use may have more activity, but it will not add 236 vehicles to the area,” Urbanek said.

As The Atlas moves toward city council consideration, officials with Bridge Capital Partners said they’re grateful for the initial positive review.

Alexander Shalavi, partner at Bridge Capital Partners, said in a statement that The Atlas is “thoughtfully planned to support the evolving expectations and needs of residents” and will provide “an alternative to more expensive, single-family homes.”

Commission Chairwoman Whitney Robbins offered one more suggestion to developers as the project moves forward.

“I feel like pedestrian safety needs to be addressed,” Robbins said. “If renters are just going to walk, I do fear for their safety because it’s so heavily congested.”

Marie Wilson is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/19/naperville-atlas-apartment-complex-commission/