Visions for Vacancies Followup: City's Conceptual Plans for Former Walmart Building
Patch asked for your visions, Crystal Lake, for the former Walmart site on Route 14, and you delivered. Now take a look at the city's conceptual redevelopment plans for the property.
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Could you envision a new library or community center with indoor pool on the site of the former Walmart and Cub Foods buildings on Route 14?
The new facilities could be built to overlook the scenic Three Oaks Recreation Center located south of the empty buildings, Crystal Lake-Cary Patch readers said.
Among the most popular visions: a Bass Pro Shop; Whole Foods; new Crystal Lake Public Library; Trader Joe's; indoor recreation/amusement center; boardwalk; restaurants; and boutiques.
The combined 155,000 square feet of retail space has stood vacant - the parking lot deteriorating, and weeds growing throughout - since Walmart left its 91,124 square foot location in October 2007, and moved to the new Walmart Supercenter at 1205 S. Route 31 in Crystal Lake.
The building is currently owned by JC Penney, which halted plans to open a department store there when the economy turned.
But, city leaders have had their eyes on the land, too, and have explored many possible uses for Crystal Court, said James Richter II, assistant director of economic development for the city.
In 2009, Legat Architects, of Crystal Lake, drafted two conceptual redevelopment plans for the property. One plan consists of fixing the existing building and surrounding landscape.
The Phase II plan is much more involved. Instead of the one large building, the plans call for several smaller mixed-use buildings ranging from 14,000 to 24,000 square feet. It also includes a civic center building and residential units along Three Oaks Road.
As part of the redevelopment, planners proposed extending Liberty Avenue eastward, and adding a roadway from the shopping center to the entrance of Three Oaks Recreation Center.
The attached document is a copy of the Phase II plans.
Darren Rivchin
8:56 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The site is a great spot . It is a knock down due to neglect. Just to knock it down you
would be looking at millions. Then many million to replace... Not feasible in this economy. Need a solid plan in government to bring jobs back to US. We are going to go through an OBSESSION . A new economics term that means recession caused 100% by OBAMA administration. At any rate it will be many years before that site is a reality. And the Recession is about to start. Crystal lake as a community needs to start planning responsibly and start taking precautions that should have been addressed 4 years ago..... Maybe we need to bring in Gov. Christy from Jersey or at least someone of his mind set that understands reality.
JS
9:20 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Library and Rec/Pool for sure! Some good restaurants (NO CHAINS!) and nice shops would be great too.
Heather A
9:38 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
the tiny picture resembles Algonquin Commons/Deer Park and the Arboretum of South Barrington. All of which have vacancies. I think as a community we are all "shopped out". We would benefit more from a cultural and recreational solution
Tbone
10:16 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Commercial vacancies abound everywhere, schools are cutting programs left and right, people are out of work or in a job and are underpaid, college and high school kids can't get work and CL is talking about poring millions into this, I would love to meet the developer, must be a Foreign investor!