Horizon Farms reopens to public amid legal tug-of-war
After being closed by a court order in September, Horizon Farms reopened to the public earlier this month, but an appellate court decision made Tuesday in a different lawsuit could throw the 400-acre equestrian estate's future into question once again.
The property has been in a legal tug-of-war between the previous owners and the Forest Preserves of Cook County ever since the governmental body purchased it for $14.5 million after it went into foreclosure in 2009.
The previous owners, Meryl Squires Cannon and Richard Kirk Cannon, have long argued that the property was wrested from them illegally by the now-defunct Amcore Bank.
Bob Slobig, an attorney for the Cannons, said Amcore switched the terms of their agreement at the last minute and gave them the awful choice between signing the new agreement or losing $2 million that had been placed in escrow.
In 2009, Amcore initiated foreclosure proceedings against the Cannons. When the bank failed that same year, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took over its assets and then sold them to BMO Harris Bank. BMO Harris then sold the loan and mortgage on Horizon Farms to the forest preserve district.
Initially the Squires' complaints about Amcore's actions, including the last minute changing of terms, were dismissed by the mortgage foreclosures section of the Circuit Court of Cook County. But a three-judge appellate court panel said Tuesday that the couple's arguments required further court action and remanded the case for further proceedings.
Lambrini Lukidis, forest preserve spokeswoman, said in a statement Wednesday that officials were disappointed.
"Obviously, we disagree with the appellate court's legal conclusions and affirmative steps will be taken to address the ruling," the statement reads.
Slobig said the case should be back before a Cook County judge this summer.
Lukidis said in the interim, the forest preserve will continue efforts to share Horizon Farms with the general public. About 4 miles of multiuse trails are available for hikers, bicyclists and horse riders.
Horizon Farms was kept closed until May 2 by a Cook County judge in response to a different lawsuit alleging the forest preserve district breached a lease the Cannons had with a management company called Royalty Farms LLC. Royalty Farms consists of Meryl Squires Cannon, investors from Florida and several employees who take care of the horses at Horizon Farms, which the forest preserve is now calling Horizon Farm. While the closure order has been lifted, the status of the litigation wasn't immediately clear on Wednesday.
When the Cannons owned the estate at 311 Algonquin Road, it was a horse racing operation, with 20 horse paddocks, several barns and a training track. The property had a main house, a guesthouse, a bunkhouse, a staff apartment building and a duplex.