A long-vacant property along Butterfield Road in Lombard is finally headed for redevelopment.
D.R. Horton is moving forward with Lakepointe Townhomes, a new 157-unit residential community planned for the former Northern Seminary campus in Lombard.
After months of village review, the Lombard Village Board gave the project its final approvals in September — and construction could begin as soon as this month.
The project won't just bring new homes.
Plans also include new parks, trails, playgrounds, ponds and other improvements that could significantly transform a property that has sat largely unused for years.
157 Townhomes Are Planned
Lakepointe Townhomes is planned for the former Northern Seminary property at:
600–670 E. Butterfield Road
Lombard, IL 60148
National homebuilder D.R. Horton plans to construct 157 townhomes on the site.
The project required several village approvals, including changes to Lombard's comprehensive plan and zoning map, creation of a planned development and approval of the subdivision.
Those measures received final approval from the Lombard Village Board on September 17, 2026.
That clears one of the biggest hurdles standing between the proposal and construction.
Construction Could Start This Month
The timeline is especially noteworthy.
Village documents indicate that groundbreaking is expected in October 2026.
If that schedule holds, residents could begin seeing activity on the former seminary property very soon.
The overall development is expected to be built in phases, with completion anticipated around 2030.
That means Lakepointe will be a multi-year transformation rather than a project that appears all at once.
This Isn't Just a Housing Project
One of the more interesting parts of Lakepointe is the amount of outdoor and public-space improvements included in the plan.
Plans call for park areas featuring amenities such as:
Playgrounds
Walking trails
Pond improvements
Naturalized wetland areas
New infrastructure and access improvements
Those additions could make the property feel less like an isolated townhome subdivision and more like a connected residential community.
The public improvements were also an important part of Lombard's decision to provide financial assistance for the redevelopment.
Lombard Approved a $4.5 Million Incentive
Along with approving the development itself, Lombard approved an economic incentive agreement worth up to $4.5 million for the project.
The funding will come through tax increment financing, commonly known as TIF.
D.R. Horton identified approximately $5.64 million in costs eligible for TIF assistance.
The approved village incentive consists of a $1.5 million land-acquisition payment plus as much as $3 million in reimbursements for eligible public improvements.
Importantly, the agreement includes a mechanism that could reduce or potentially eliminate portions of the incentive depending on the eventual sale prices of the homes.
Village officials cited several reasons for supporting the agreement, including the property's long-term vacancy, infrastructure costs, new parkland and the potential economic impact on nearby businesses.
Why the Former Seminary Property Matters
The development site has a long history in Lombard.
Northern Seminary operated its campus on the property before relocating, leaving behind a sizable piece of land along one of Lombard's major commercial corridors.
Redeveloping large institutional properties like this can be complicated.
Unlike an empty parcel ready for construction, former campuses can require demolition, infrastructure work, utility improvements and significant changes to roads and site layouts before new homes can be built.
That's one reason the Lakepointe proposal has taken time to move through the planning process.
Now, after final village approval, the property appears much closer to beginning its next chapter.
More Housing Near Yorktown and Butterfield Road
Location could be another major advantage for the development.
The former seminary property sits along Butterfield Road, placing future residents close to one of DuPage County's largest concentrations of shopping, dining and employment.
Yorktown Center is nearby, along with restaurants, stores and businesses throughout the Butterfield Road corridor.
The development also provides relatively easy access to major roads including:
Butterfield Road
Highland Avenue
Roosevelt Road
I-88
I-355
Adding 157 households in this area could also mean additional customers for nearby Lombard businesses.
That's one of the economic benefits village officials considered when evaluating the project.
Lombard's Yorktown Area Is Changing
Lakepointe is arriving during a much larger period of change around southern Lombard.
The area surrounding Yorktown Center has gradually been shifting away from being exclusively retail-focused.
New housing, redevelopment and mixed-use projects are bringing more residents directly into an area historically dominated by shopping centers, offices and large parking lots.
That creates a different type of neighborhood.
Instead of people simply driving into the Yorktown area to shop or work and then leaving, more people are beginning to live nearby.
Lakepointe would continue that trend with another 157 homes.
Why Townhomes?
Townhome developments have become increasingly common throughout the western suburbs.
They occupy an interesting middle ground in the housing market.
For buyers, they can offer more space and privacy than a traditional apartment or condominium while requiring less exterior maintenance than many detached single-family homes.
They can appeal to several different groups — including first-time buyers, downsizers and people who want homeownership without maintaining a large yard.
And in established suburbs where large undeveloped parcels are increasingly difficult to find, townhomes allow communities to add housing without requiring enormous amounts of land.
Lakepointe is a good example of that approach.
Instead of extending Lombard outward, the project reuses an existing property inside the village.
What Happens Next?
With the major zoning approvals and economic incentive agreement now approved, attention turns toward construction.
Village planning documents anticipate an October 2026 groundbreaking.
From there, development is expected to occur over several years, with overall completion targeted around 2030.
As with any large construction project, individual phases and timelines can still change.
But after years of uncertainty surrounding the former seminary property, Lakepointe has now moved beyond being simply an early redevelopment concept.
It's an approved project preparing for construction.
FAQs
What is Lakepointe Townhomes?
Lakepointe is a new residential development from D.R. Horton planned for the former Northern Seminary campus in Lombard.
How many homes will be built?
The approved development includes 157 townhomes.
Where will Lakepointe Townhomes be located?
The development is planned for 600–670 E. Butterfield Road in Lombard, on the former Northern Seminary property.
Has the project been approved?
Yes. The Lombard Village Board gave final approval to the project's zoning and development measures on September 17, 2026.
When will construction begin?
Village documents indicate groundbreaking is expected in October 2026. Construction schedules can change, so that should be considered the current anticipated timeline rather than a guaranteed start date.
When will Lakepointe be completed?
The overall development is currently expected to be completed around 2030.
Will the development include parks?
Yes. Plans include park areas, playgrounds, trails, pond improvements and naturalized wetland areas.
Did Lombard provide an incentive for the development?
Yes. The Village Board approved a TIF-based economic incentive agreement with D.R. Horton worth up to $4.5 million.
Final Thoughts
For years, the former Northern Seminary campus represented a large redevelopment opportunity along Lombard's Butterfield Road corridor.
Now there's a much clearer picture of what's coming.
157 new townhomes, parks, trails, playgrounds and other improvements are planned as part of the Lakepointe development.
And unlike an early proposal that could still be years away, this project has already cleared its major village approvals.
Groundbreaking is currently expected in October.
With construction potentially beginning this month and buildout continuing through roughly 2030, Lakepointe could become one of the more noticeable residential transformations happening around Lombard's Yorktown and Butterfield Road area over the next several years.
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