Groundbreaking for new Lake County fairgrounds today
The first elephant ears of the season won't be fried up for more than seven months, yet the Lake County Fair Association has no time to waste.
With earthmovers at the ready, top officials will huddle today in a cold field for a ceremonial groundbreaking on a new and improved fairgrounds.
They hope it will be ready in time for the annual July event, but they have a backup plan if it isn't.
A posse of equipment has been lined up at former Titus Farm on Peterson Road near Midlothian Road in Grayslake, ready to sculpt the earth in preparation for a fairgrounds for the 21st century.
"It's just an exciting time for the fair board and members of the association to see this thing getting started, to finally see equipment out there," said fair association president Dave DeYoung.
The activity is the latest in a years-long quest by the fair association to replace the sagging facilities at routes 45 and 120, where the tradition has persevered for more than 50 years.
It also represents the first visible evidence of a complicated, multimillion-dollar transaction that will provide the fair association with a new home and replace its old haunt with an 807,000-square-foot shopping center.
The first order of business is to build the centerpiece 88,000-square-foot events center, in which all the fair exhibits will be housed. While it will serve as a temporary home for animals during fair week, the building is planned as a year-round venue for other events.
DeYoung says the plan is to build the foundation as soon as possible, weather permitting.
"In this area, with the equipment today, there are very few limitations," he said.
In a related matter, Lake County is designing an extension of Midlothian Road to the north. The first portion will be long enough to take visitors to the new fairgrounds entrance and is expected to be ready for the July 22 opening -- if need be.
Fair officials have promised from the outset that whatever happens, the 2008 fair will be held as scheduled.
Knowing that the best made plans aren't always completed on time, the fair association included a safety provision in the sale of its current property, retaining the exclusive use and occupancy for a month after the 2008 event ends.
"We can't have any transaction that runs the risk of missing the annual fair," said Rudy Magna, the association's attorney. "There's no surprises. This is something that was contemplated."
Magna said construction will be on a standard schedule.
"You're talking about $1 million or more to go to additional (construction) shifts. That breaks up this budget," he said.
The estimated cost of the project has not been disclosed. The fair association received the Titus Farm and $12.5 million from Developers Diversified Realty Corp. of suburban Cleveland for the route 45/120 property.