Fox Lake hotel nearly good to go

Developers from the long-awaited Fox Lake hotel said they are almost done with the red tape needed to begin construction on the Route 12 site.

Mike Stessman, developer of the 16-acre parcel on Route 12, one block south of Eagle Point Road, gave an update of the proposed hotel and other amenities to the village board Tuesday.

He said Holiday Inn has signed on the dotted line and will take over management of the hotel. He added plans for the hotel have been approved, and plans have been drawn up for the property.

He added plans for the attached 450-seat banquet facility and In-Play high-tech game area also are ready to go.

Stessman said the hotel also will be able to be expanded if needed.

"We've been hearing from people that the hotel could be too small, so we'll have the ability to expand it," he said. "The site is really coming along. The commercial aspect will enhance the project tremendously."

He said the Fox Lake Lifestyles LLC is in negotiations to sell 5 acres of the property to a new commercial developer to put storefronts on the land.

He wouldn't go into who the commercial developer is, but said it would be a welcome addition to Fox Lake.

Stessman said the hope is to have construction begin in the spring.

The property also will contain 98 residential units geared toward people age 55 and over.

The site will feature an enclosed swimming pool, and a parking lot large enough to handle the entire site.

"We are going to try and maintain as much of green space as possible," he said. "I don't want to be yelled at because there will be a sea of concrete."

Officials were happy with the update and extended a deadline in place to get the hotel up and running.

"The site will be incredible," Trustee Ed Bender said during the meeting Tuesday. "When it's all said and done it will really go through a substantial upgrade and redevelopment."