Restaurant, apartments in proposed mixed-use building in downtown Lake Zurich gets favorable review

A proposal to raze a home on South Old Rand Road in downtown Lake Zurich and replace it with a new building with a first-floor restaurant and apartments above has informal village support.

The plan from Matthew Lovejoy, who was behind a similar redevelopment built immediately north about four years ago, was well received during a courtesy review this week.

“This makes sense as a prospective project for the downtown we’re intending to create. Looks good,” said village Trustee Jake Marx.

Courtesy reviews are held by the village to provide feedback on proposals and a sense of whether an idea is acceptable or needs changes before proceeding through the formal approval process.

Although details have yet to be worked out, village officials are enthusiastic about the concept and have a level of confidence and trust with Lovejoy.

“The first building that you built has been a great success and looking forward to this one as well,” Mayor Tom Poynton told Lovejoy. The site is just south of Main Street and the village’s namesake lake.

That project at 17 S. Old Rand Road includes the family’s florist shop, a bakery and pastry shop and a financial services company on the ground floor, with four apartments above in a two-story building.

It was built precisely as designed, Lovejoy said, adding that he turned down potential tenants because he felt the town needed a bakery.

The property, including the home to the south, was recently listed and his offer accepted, Lovejoy said. It was built as a residence but now has a business on the lower floor and an apartment upstairs.

The house would be razed and replaced with a 5,500-square-foot building that, because of space limitations, will be about 20% smaller than the first project. To make it work, Lovejoy wants to acquire an adjoining village public parking area and, in exchange, move those spots behind the new building.

“The net effect would be an even swap where the village would retain as many parking spaces as there are currently,” Lovejoy said.

He said the new building would have “kind of a Frank Lloyd Wright prairie look.”

“We’d like to put a restaurant on the main floor — a French restaurant because Lake Zurich is now down exactly one French restaurant,” he said, referring to the closing last February of D & J Bistro after 37 years.

Three 2-bedroom apartments of 1,700 square feet to 1,800 square feet would be built above.

Should Lovejoy proceed, access for emergency vehicles and other considerations are among the details to be worked out during the application and public review process before returning to the village board for final approval.

“We feel very comfortable with working through the issues with Mr. Lovejoy,” said Michael Duebner, assistant village manager, “based on our past experience and him doing what exactly he set out to do and complete the project.”

Groundbreaking isn’t expected until April, according to Lovejoy.

mzawislak@dailyherald.com