The year of the crane: Lake Forest home to a number of construction projects

Cathy Czerniak, community development director for Lake Forest, has proposed calling 2017 "the year of the crane."

"One morning when I looked at the skyline, I saw four different cranes piercing the skyline from the central business district," Czerniak said.

The Lake Forester recently spoke with Czerniak about the state of various ongoing construction projects in town.

Lake Forest Hospital

The hospital is still on target to open its outpatient clinics this fall with the rest of the almost $400 million hospital to open in the first quarter of 2018. Final work on the interior of the buildings is being completed, a temporary parking lot is being removed and the height of a berm on the south side of the property is being increased.

Kelmscott Park (formerly Laurel and Western)

Three apartment buildings with a total of 111 units are expected to open in January, February and March 2018. Pre-leasing of apartments is scheduled to start this October. One single family home has been pre-sold and construction on a model single family home is almost complete.

Condominium sales are near the point where construction can start. Infrastructure work is being done along Western Avenue, which borders east side of the development, including the addition of diagonal parking spots and storm sewers. The Heritage Tree, a swamp white oak located on the property, is being monitored.

Market Square

Owner L3 Capital has spent about $3 million restoring the exteriors of the stores in the 101-year-old shopping center. The north alley is currently being converted from a service alley with utilities and garbage containers to a gathering and eating area with restrooms, an elevator and outdoor seating. Second floor office space is being upgraded.

McKinley Road

Two office buildings at 721 and 725 N. McKinley Road have been torn down and a 14-unit condominium building is under construction. Completion is expected in mid-to-late 2018. The city approved two more condo buildings as part of a master plan for the area. Czerniak anticipates the development group will submit detailed plans this fall.

Willow Lake

A development of 52 townhouses off Field Court was approved before 2007, but stalled due to the housing market crash. Work is now underway and 18 units have been constructed with more construction coming as units are sold.

Oak Knoll Woodlands

Streets, utilities and other infrastructure is complete at the project site. Construction on the 16 single family homes hasn't started yet, although sales are expected to begin soon.

Westleigh Farm subdivision

Thirty-three homes are planned for the 47-acre property that will leave about 20 acres as open space. Construction is imminent, Czerniak said, and construction equipment is on the site. Infrastructure will be constructed first and lots will likely be offered for sale by the end of 2017. New home construction might start in mid 2018. An existing house at 210 Ridge Road that was designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw is being marketed by North Shore Builders.

770 Westleigh Road

In one of the more interesting real estate developments in Lake Forest, the Janko Group plans to construct nine homes on five acres. The property is part of a larger 22-acre site bought by the real estate arm of the nonprofit Lake Forest Open Lands Association. Open Lands aims to cover its costs with the development and keep the remaining 17 acres as open space. The project will likely go to the City Council for final approval this fall with construction starting either this fall or next spring.

New car wash

Waterway Carwash has proposed a combined car wash, gas station and convenience store on the corner of Everett and Waukegan roads. The developer is responding to concerns raised at a Plan Commission meeting in March. Those concerns include noise, lights and impact on traffic. The soonest the developer could return to the Plan Commission is October.

Amberly Woods

A condominium building on a 40-acre parcel along Route 60 near Saunders Road has been completed and pre-sales are underway for a second condo building that is not yet under construction. Five single-family homes have been constructed on the south end of the site out of a planned 24. Smith Capital Management, which owns 8.5 acres of commercial property on the site, is considering their options for retail, restaurant, hotel or office uses, although Smith Capital has yet to present plans to the city.

mlawton@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter: @reporterdude

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