Full Breakdown
Highland Park Council Gives Preliminary Nod to Subdivision of City’s First Home
8/21/2026, 3:56:58 AM
Background & Context
147 Central Ave., a landmarked property recognized as Highland Park’s first home, sits on 4.3 acres and includes a 45,000-square-foot historic house. The lot is larger than any other landmarked parcel in the city’s single-family district, with only three of the town’s 74 local landmark homes occupying more than two acres.
Data & Statistics
- Total parcel: 4.3 acres (approximately 187,000 sq ft).
- Proposed subdivision: two lots of roughly 89,000 sq ft each.
- 2025 property tax bill: $81,000; projected to rise to $100,000 within five years.
- Only three of 74 landmark homes sit on more than two acres.
Official Statements & Responses
The City Council voted to give preliminary approval to the subdivision request, which will now return to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and the Plan and Design Commission (PDC) for further review before a final vote. Councilmember John Center noted the steep tax burden, saying the rising assessment makes the current configuration “unsustainable” for most buyers and that the split “allows a realistic market transaction.”
Councilmember Anthony Blumberg defended the proposal as a legitimate request rather than a profit-driven development. Real-estate broker Lisa Rome emphasized that the historic house will remain on its original parcel and that preserving the “legacy” does not require retaining the entire acreage.
Councilmember Yumi Ross warned that while the house’s beauty is protected, the subdivision would be “irreversible.”
The applicant, represented by attorney Calvin Bernstein of Samuels & Bernstein, offered a $2,500 donation to aid preservation efforts, and the advisory commissions suggested retaining the gatepost, wrought-iron fence, heritage trees, and driveway.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This request is a legitimate request; this is not a money grab. This is not a big-time developer looking to squeeze every last dollar out of a piece of land,” — Councilmember Anthony Blumberg
- “Out of 74 Highland Park local landmark homes, only three sit on more than two acres,” — Lisa Rome
- “Subdividing the land does not change the legacy of 147 Central Ave.,” — Lisa Rome
- “The buyer can always find another beautiful home, but the City’s subdivision is irreversible,” — Councilmember Yumi Ross
What’s Next
The subdivision proposal must be reconsidered by the Historic Preservation Commission and the Plan and Design Commission. After those bodies issue their recommendations, the City Council will hold a final vote to determine whether the two new lots will be created and the historic home will remain on its original parcel.
