Fairgrounds not only change coming to Peterson Road

As visitors to the sleek Lake County Fairgrounds try to transfer a half century of tradition to a new locale on Peterson Road, they can be assured that won't be the only change in the surroundings.

For decades, the east-west route through central Lake County has been regarded as a potential juggernaut of new business and industry.

So far, that has mostly been limited to the eastern end of the nearly 4-mile corridor between Route 45 in Libertyville and Route 60 in Round Lake Park. Big changes may still be a few years away, but are now regarded as more than an ambitious dream.

Disputes over potential uses, difficulty in securing utilities and a poor economy have limited large-scale activity to drawing boards. Large expanses remain as rolling farmland dotted with corn and the occasional house.

The market is still tough, but actions are being taken in advance of an expected transformation of Peterson and surrounding areas.

An indication of the pending change is a fast-tracked schedule of road improvements by the Lake County Division of Transportation and negotiations between villages along the route and the county to prepare for them.

"Right now you don't have anybody investing, but that's going to come back," said Lake County Administrator Barry Burton. "This was a real unique opportunity to get ahead of the curve and make it attractive for economic development."

In spring, work begins to widen Peterson to four lanes between routes 45 and 83, which will benefit the fairgrounds and other properties in or near Libertyville.

At the west end, Peterson will be realigned to the south with a new intersection at Route 60. Also, Midlothian Road will be extended from the fairgrounds entrance to connect with Harris Road near two Metra commuter stations.

By 2016, Peterson will be widened as a divided highway for its entire length, Alleghany Road will be extended from Peterson to Route 60 and Winchester Road will be extended from Route 83 to connect with Alleghany. Bike paths will be part of the system.

"That corridor is looked at from an economic development standpoint and we're trying to get the transportation infrastructure in place," said Al Giertych, assistant county engineer.

Standing alone between routes 83 and 45 at Midlothian Road, the $20 million fairgrounds complex is among the newest arrivals.

Other noticeable uses in the corridor are: Fremont Township's Behm Homestead Park, which was dedicated in May near the west end; the Hindu Mandir temple, which opened two years ago near Route 83; and McShane Corporation's light industrial and distribution facilities in Libertyville.

What happens in the middle section of Peterson on either side of Alleghany Road will have the biggest impact.

Two mega plans, the Alter Group's Cornerstone and the long-touted Central Range, envision new facilities that will employ about 18,000 combined.

Cornerstone, which is in the process of securing final approval for a variety of required agreements, is envisioned as a community within itself. The $818 million plan announced in March will include housing, shopping, industrial, research and office facilities.

"Mixed use is the wave of the future. It won't be, 'Here's a little office park.' It won't be like development was in the 1990s where you have stand-alone uses," said Russell Medley, marketing and research director of Lake County Partners, the county's economic development arm.

"This would bring jobs out there but it also would get the jobs closer to the work force. That's one of the advantages."

One area that isn't expected to be change soon is the 467-acres owned by the Catholic Bishop of Chicago and the Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Chicago south of Peterson Road on either side of Alleghany. Acquired between 1959 and 1961, there are no immediate plans for development.

Alter purchased several hundred acres more than 30 years ago when an extension of Route 53 was planned to traverse the area. Though the plan has long been dormant, the right-of-way is being maintained.

Because of a large volume of traffic, a population of 130,000 within 5 miles and full Route 137 Tri-State Tollway interchange to the east, Peterson remains attractive.

"Through the years, we've had people interested with or without (Route) 53," said Lake County Board member Pat Carey, a former Grayslake mayor. "The fact that Alter is going forward, and the industrial development you've seen east of 83, (shows) people will build without a superhighway coming through."

While Libertyville has some properties to work with and is considering annexing more, Grayslake stands to be the winner as the home of the fairgrounds, Cornerstone and Central Range.

"That would change the character of Peterson and provide a lot of opportunity," said Grayslake Mayor Rhett Taylor.

Aside from being the home of the annual Lake County Fair, which begins Tuesday, the fairgrounds is considered a multipurpose facility for shows, conventions and other uses that will bring people to the area and possibly attract hotels and restaurants, Taylor said.

Its presence was a factor in the location of a new 96-room Hampton Inn & Suites, which opened last week near Route 45 in Libertyville.

"We're thinking out 10 years," said sales director Kelly Conley. "Everything is pushing out in that direction."