New apartments coming to downtown Mundelein
Developers plan to turn a vacant one-story building in downtown Mundelein into rental affordable housing.
The project, led by a Chicago company called VeriGreen Development, is called Fairhaven Crossing. It's focused on a brick building at 407 E. Hawley St. The site formerly was occupied by a business called Security Locknut that has since relocated to Vernon Hills.
Plans call for a three-story building containing 40 apartments. The brick structure on the land will remain and be converted into the first floor of the building, Village Administrator John Lobaito said.
"Environmentally, (it's) a very green way of building," Lobaito said.
The village board approved a redevelopment plan for the site Monday.
Construction could start in August, Lobaito said. Work is expected to take about a year.
The site is especially suitable for affordable housing, Lobaito said, because it's so close to shops and the Metra commuter train station.
"The residential development is ideally located in downtown Mundelein providing its residents effortless access to public transportation and every day services," Lobaito said.
Kevin Beard, a project manager with VeriGreen, said he likes the site for several reasons, including its proximity to the Lake County Center for Independent Living, a group that assists people with disabilities. Clients could be eligible for housing at Fairhaven Crossing, he said.
Beard also believes the apartment building plays into the village's plan to turn downtown Mundelein into a vibrant place to live, work and eat.
"This development will contribute to that plan," Beard said.
As part of the project, VeriGreen will extend Anthony Avenue north to Hawley Street, on the east side of the building. The village will reimburse the company for the cost of that road work because of its significant public benefit, Lobaito said.
"We have had this on our list to do since 2005," he said.