St. Mary of the Lake looks ahead with development plans
The extensive holdings of St. Mary of the Lake Mundelein Seminary are mainly in its namesake community.
But officials at the landmark Catholic facility, established in 1921 by Archbishop George Mundelein, are looking to its property in Libertyville for the future.
Designed by an apprentice of renowned Chicago planner Daniel Burnham, the sprawling seminary campus and grounds are costly to maintain. Church officials are considering its Libertyville acreage for a new source of income.
"They said they prefer not to sell off (a portion of the property) but it's one of the options they're looking at to raise funds," said John Spoden, Libertyville's director of community development.
St. Mary of the Lake wants the village to change the land use from public/institutional to residential use and open space.
"It's a way for us to both give our input into their thinking, but also hear from them what the village needs," said the Rev. Thomas Baima, provost of the facility.
The 96 acres in Libertyville form the eastern border of the 838-acre St. Mary of the Lake property owned by the Catholic Bishop of Chicago.
The specific area under consideration is west of Butterfield Road, east and south of the Pine Meadow Golf Course to Route 176. The archdiocese owns and leases the golf course.
For planning purposes, St. Mary has divided the Libertyville property into three sections: 33 acres on the north; 48 acres in the middle; and, 15 acres on the south.
The intent is to create a unified plan for the three areas that would not adversely impact the campus.
One concept envisions a moderate density residential development on the north, with a portion serving the elderly and handicapped.
The middle, which includes part of an interior lake, would remain open space. The southern section could be specialized housing or an office, government or religious use.
The village and St. Mary stress there are no specific proposals being considered at this point.
"It's an amendment to the comprehensive plan regarding the land use of their property," Spoden said. "It allows for a lot more conversation and involvement."
Baima said that because of an oversight, St. Mary did not participate in the process in 2005 that resulted in the current comprehensive plan.
In considering its strategies for the future, the seminary decided to look at the big picture first rather than submit a specific proposal. The matter was considered this week by the village's plan commission and continued to January.
Baima said much of the land would be kept in its current state. Only a small portion would be considered for generating revenue and that may be far in the future, he added.