Road work at fairgrounds site get OK
Another in a series of steps needed to transform a long-time Lake County farm into a new fairgrounds site has been enthusiastically approved by the Lake County board.
The board on Tuesday voted in favor of two measures that will provide a key part of the groundwork to enable the Lake County Fair to open at a new home in time for next summer's annual event.
The first was an agreement with the Lake County Fair Association Inc., to provide the right-of-way at no cost for the extension of Midlothian Road to connect with Harris Road, adding turn lanes at all four legs of the Midlothian/Peterson intersection, and storm water storage for the new fair site, known as the Titus Farm.
In exchange, the county will appropriate $2.8 million for the work.
The first stage calls for the extension of Midlothian north for about 1,600 feet to what will be the main fairgrounds entrance. That as well as the some intersection and storm water improvements are to be completed by July 20, 2008, in time for patrons to get to the new fair location.
The second part, extending Midlothian to Harris Road, will be done when county funds become available. That extension has been in county plans
In a related agreement, the fair board will at no cost provide the county with 70 feet of additional right of way along the entire Peterson Road frontage. Future plans call for the widening of Peterson from west of Route 45 to east of Route 83.
The fair association will submit a traffic study for the new site to the county by Oct. 1 and will convey all right-of-way, including 120 feet for the Midlothian extension, by Oct. 15.
As part of that pact, the county will hire Christopher B. Burke Engineering Inc., of Rosemont, at a cost not to exceed about $541,000. Burke will do the design engineering for the widening of Peterson as well as an interim improvement to the intersection.
The Titus Farm, along Peterson west of Harris Road, has been in the same family since 1877. A closing on the property is scheduled for Aug. 31.
At that time, developers SKW Capital Management and Developers Diversified Realty Corp., will acquire the current fairgrounds property at Route 120 and 45 in Grayslake and convey the Titus Farm and $12.5 million to the fair association.
A portion of the Titus Farm will include an area for commercial uses. While all parties involved are excited about the opportunities, there remains a bit of nostalgia for days gone by. Titus crops were a favorite at local farm markets.
"Their vegetables we're always the best," said Lake County Board member Carol Calabresa of Libertyville.
"A lot of us will miss them a lot. Our family dinners won't be the same without the perfect sweet corn."