Improvements would come to Walnut Glen under deal

Left incomplete when the housing market crashed, the roads and sidewalks in Island Lake's Walnut Glen subdivision could soon be finished.

The village board has sent a construction agreement to Residential Homes of America, the Libertyville builder responsible for the development. If the company completes the requested work, the village will release some of the firm's security deposit for the project, Mayor Debbie Herrmann said.

Located near River and Dowell roads, Walnut Glen initially was supposed to contain more than 200 homes, but empty lots are common.

Sections of sidewalk are missing in front of the vacant lots, and some roads in the neighborhood never were equipped with a top layer.

That last omission is particularly worrisome to Herrmann, who said winter weather could cause the uncompleted roads to deteriorate.

"It's very important to get this accomplished," she said. "The people who have bought property in there deserve a finished product."

The proposed agreement also calls for the company to remove equipment and to seed the area to encourage grass growth, Herrmann said.

The village board approved the agreement Sept. 8. Officials hope the builder will complete the work before winter.

"It'll make a big difference," Herrmann said.

A Residential Homes of America representative could not be reached for comment.

Walnut Glen was among the suburban residential developments affected when the housing market collapsed a few years ago. Neighborhoods in Antioch, Mundelein and other communities were abandoned by builders, and several developers went bankrupt.