EDITORIAL

A highly developed moment

Television anchors are always fond of referring to a "new development" as a story takes a different twist. In Lake Forest, the phrase "new development" is also apt as the stories of Barat College and Amberley Woods wind to a conclusion.

After more than 100 years as a school on prime Lake Forest property, Barat College has been sold by DePaul University to Lake Forest developer Bob Shaw. The plan is to build rowhouses on the property and install condominiums or apartments in Old Main, the historic building that faces Westleigh Road.

It is hard to see such a graceful property come to such an end, but at the same time, it could have been worse. At least Mr. Shaw, who has been involved with projects from Middlefork Savanna to Academy Woods, is well-regarded and, as a Lake Forest resident, will build (and demolish) with more care than a developer from outside of town.

All will be glad that Old Main will stay standing and that its front lawn should remain untouched. The Barat Education Foundation will have a role on the former campus. Still, questions remain about the fate of historic parts of the 23-acre property, such as the chapel.

Over at Amberley Woods, many seem to be heartened that a lawsuit has been dismissed and a project involving office buildings and houses off of Route 60 near the I-94 Tollway can move ahead. It had been quite a battle between the city and developer Rick Swanson but goodwill has prevailed. Like Shaw, Swanson has been involved in many Lake Forest and Lake Bluff projects.

Lake Forest has been fortunate that over the decades that Lake Forest Open Lands has saved about 700 acres of property from being developed, but Barat College and Amberley Woods will not enjoy that protection.

The bottom line: about 60 acres of now empty or at least dormant Lake Forest land will be built upon. While that's good in terms of more taxes coming into the city, these developments should fit the character of Lake Forest as much as possible.

And when in doubt, the developers should err on the side of preservation by maintaining historic buildings or setting aside open land.