A lakefront parking lot and park would be transformed into a neighborhood of condos, small shops and restaurants under plans the Waukegan Port District unveiled this week.
Construction could begin this spring on a portion of the project, officials said.
The port district and the Waukegan City Council Monday agreed to work together to redevelop 30 acres of port district property.
The intergovernmental agreement formalizes a casual relationship the city and the port district have had while discussing how to make better use of land now occupied by a park and a parking lot.
“We can’t do this without the city, and we don’t want to do anything that would conflict with what the city wants to do,” said Rodger Welker, port district chairman.
The port district has reached an agreement with the Waukegan Lakefront Development Corp., a group of private investors, to develop the 30 acres. Last fall, the Waukegan Lakefront Development Corp. hired DeStafano & Partners of Chicago to develop a preliminary master plan for the harbor lakefront.
The project would begin with construction of 80 to 120 condominiums west of the Waukegan Yacht Club, between Madison Avenue and Clayton Street, along with retail shops and restaurants.
The second phase would add 300 to 400 additional condominiums to the south, along Washington Street, as well as additional retail and restaurants.
The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad tracks would be removed from the site.
The final phase would be the construction of a commuter transportation center adjacent to the Metra station, which would include parking for 2,000 cars. It would include 500 additional housing units, along with a bridge connection over the Amstutz Expressway, which cuts off much of the lakefront from the rest of the downtown area.
Waukegan has started many improvement efforts, including the creation of a master plan for its 1,500 acres of lakefront and a $15.5 million renovation of the Genesee Theatre downtown.
Plans for a new $12 million City Hall also have been approved.
Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde said that under the city’s agreement with the port district, the city would hire a new planner to work with port district planners to determine the best way to use the land.
“We want to help them because it’s their land,” Hyde said.
Hyde said the city and port district have been meeting regularly with Waukegan Park District and Lake County officials to discuss lakefront redevelopment plans.
Avi Lothan, land planner for DeStefano & Partners, said Waukegan’s lakefront presents a distinctive opportunity for redevelopment because it is the only publicly accessible waterfront in the area from Chicago to Waukegan.
“It’s ready to go,” Lothan said. “I think this is a plan that is realistic as well as visionary.”
Shai Lothan, lead developer, said the Waukegan Lakefront Development Corp. has spent almost $2 million on engineering, architecture and consultant fees.
