Carpentersville trustees to developer: finish work in subdivision or let us

Carpentersville village board members have found a Bartlett-based developer in default of its obligations to make various public improvements on an east side subdivision.

Last Tuesday, trustees called the bond on the completed White Oaks subdivision of 68 homes, a move that forces Wyndham Deerpoint Homes to either finish the work or pay the village to do it. The developer put up bonds in the amount of $819,015.08 on the improvements aspect of the project before it even began.

“It’s like an insurance policy, in layman’s terms — to have money available to make good on the development,” Village Manager J. Mark Rooney said.

The developer was supposed to make minor “punch list” repairs village staff members turned up during an inspection that included some sidewalk work, installing proper vegetation, relocating utilities and replacing dead trees. These issues have nothing to do with the quality of the homes within the subdivision, which is south of Lake Marian Road and west of Deer Creek Road, Village Engineer Scott Marquardt said.

The paper trail between the village and the developer began almost three years ago.

In December 2008, the developer sent a written request asking the village to accept the work it had done. In January 2009, the village sent a letter back that detailed incomplete and defective materials and workmanship, past due invoices and issues related to landscaping and planting, according to a board report. The village sent two more letters that month to the developer and talks took place between the parties through October 2009.

At some point in October 2009, the developer stopped work on the project and cut off all communication with the village. Marquardt says the developer never explained why.

Carpentersville finally responded by throwing down the gauntlet last week.

“We’re catching up on some things and felt we had to go after them with the letter of credit,” Marquardt said.

Wyndham Deerpoint Homes officials have 30 days to respond to the board’s action.

Richard Guerard, listed as a manager at Wyndam Deerpoint Homes, did not respond to requests for an interview.