The 26-acre campus of the shuttered Grove School in Lake Forest is peaceful and still with only natural disturbances–the song of a cardinal, or the scamper of a chipmunk through a bush.
But for the last three years, the land that boasts an oak forest, historic buildings, preserved natural grasses and wildflowers has been a thorny source of debate and frustration for the city and neighbors.
The property, tucked away on the corner of Old Mill and Ridge Roads in south central Lake Forest, has changed hands three times since 1994, when Grove School closed.
The latest development in this saga came last month, after the City of Lake Forest got an option to buy the property from the current owner, Bethany Methodist Corp., and put it to use for the community.
But there’s a time limit on that option.
Bethany Methodist, a health-care provider, wants an answer by Sept. 9. That has left the city in a mad dash to decide what to do with one of the last remaining large pieces of land in the community.
Everyone seems to have an opinion.
Some say the land should be preserved as open space in keeping with the high value placed on Lake Forest’s pastoral settings. Others say it should be used for affordable senior housing, something seniors have been seeking for 10 years or more.
The debate over development began in 1995, when Deerfield-based Trinity International University bought the land from Grove after the school for retarded adults closed.
Trinity bought it to create a satellite campus of graduate student dormitories and retreat space. In addition, nine acres would have been used for residential development.
The Lake Forest plan commission eventually rejected the concept after neighbors complained about traffic and argued that the proposal was a poor fit for a residential area.
In 1996, Trinity sold the land to Bethany, which wanted to open affordable senior housing units and a senior center.
Bethany’s plan, however, never even came before city officials for consideration. Neighborhood opposition was raised at forums in November, and the company also failed to procure three acres near the site it needed for access.
Bethany eventually decided to back out, and in June, offered the land to Lake Forest.
In response, the city called together a commission of residents, city staff and elected officials to consider options.
A memo from the commission listed a variety of ideas: Turn the campus, including five buildings, into a historic museum or civic centers, preserve the open space, or reserve it for affordable senior housing.
Area residents and seniors, to be sure, will be watching the commission’s work closely.
Seniors on fixed incomes say they have been waiting too long for an alternative to their large, property tax-heavy homes.
“We have to start somewhere,” argues Susanna Bunta, chairman of the city’s Senior Resources Commission. “Lake Forest obviously needs affordable housing . . . (The seniors) can’t afford to stay in homes, and they want to find apartments in their communities.”
At least one resident is glad the city has the opportunity to get the land and create more open space.
“There isn’t anyone who wouldn’t tell you they want it to remain as it is,” said Corky Peterson, a 20-year resident.
“I’d love to have the city use it as park lands and open lands,” Peterson said. “And I am not being selfish about it. There isn’t enough of these kinds of woods in our community. They are just getting swallowed up.”
