Ground broken for Grayslake-area firehouse

Grayslake Fire Protection District broke ground Tuesday on a new station intended to better serve its southwestern coverage area, including a seniors community in Round Lake Park.

“I’d be thrilled if we were open in October,” Fire Chief John Christian said.

About $2.2 million has been budgeted for the 10,000-square-foot firehouse that’ll bring quicker response times — a desired 4 to 6 minutes, Christian said.

Saddlebrook Farms, a 55-and-older community in Round Lake Park, will be a significant beneficiary of what’ll be the district’s nearby third station at Peterson Road and Route 60 in unincorporated Lake County.

Residents near Cedar Lake Road and Route 60, as well as those to the south in the Ivanhoe Estates subdivision, also will benefit from the new station, Christian said.

Funding was approved in a 2008 tax-increase referendum. An owner of a $200,000 market value home was projected to pay an extra $100 annually to the fire protection district.

Gurnee architect Daniel Robison designed the fire station. It’ll be a single-story structure with equipment and truck areas, firefighter dormitory rooms and offices. It’ll rise on a 1.7-acre site.

The fire district doesn’t just include the namesake village. Third Lake, Round Lake Park, Round Lake Beach and unincorporated Lake County areas of Wildwood, Gages Lake, Highland Lake and Fremont Township also are within its boundaries. Two other fire stations serving the district are in downtown Grayslake and to the east on Brae Loch Road near College of Lake County.