Harvesting 4,000 heads of lettuce every two weeks, and 2,000 pounds of tomatoes every few months, is not a common occurrence in downtown Waukegan, but by the end of next year it could be a reality.
Eliza Fournier, the Urban Farm Center Director at the College of Lake County, said when the farm is built, two-thirds of the 24,000-square-foot building will be devoted to hydroponic farming, with fresh produce grown 12 months a year.
“This will be the most affordable food grown without chemicals,” Fournier said. “The center will be a model for urban farming, demonstrating how we can grow food in the heart of Waukegan. This space will demonstrate how nutritious food can be affordable, accessible and fun.”
Fournier and CLC President Lori Suddick led a large group from the community formally breaking ground for the Urban Farm Center Friday at the school’s growing Lakeshore Campus in downtown Waukegan, representing another step in the growth of the area.
Jesus Ruiz, the dean of the Lakeshore Campus, said the farm means a lot to the city where he was raised after immigrating as a child from Mexico. He is excited about what it will do for his hometown.
“This is progress for our downtown,” Ruiz said. “(It) will revitalize not only our campus, but breathe new life into downtown Waukegan,” Ruiz said. “This space will provide fresh, nutritious, locally grown food right here. More than that, it will nourish the spirit of our community.”
Suddick said construction will start as soon as permits are secured from the city. All other approvals are in order. She anticipates completion by the end of 2026. It will be located on Sheridan Road adjacent to the five-story student center opened in 2023.
Lettuce and tomatoes are not the only planned crops. Fournier said there will be mushrooms, herbs, peppers and more. All farming will be hydroponic. Students will have an opportunity to not only learn, but also find work.
Along with growing fresh produce to be sold at a market in the farm structure, Fournier said the building will also be a place where food entrepreneurs can grow their business in a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen. She sees it becoming a “community hub.”
“Our vision is to ensure this Urban Farm Center becomes a vibrant, thriving resource for everyone,” Fournier said. “A place where we not only grow food, but we grow people, grow opportunities and grow a stronger, healthier community.”
A café and market will offer “grab and go” meals for sale prepared by those developing their business in the commercial kitchen, as well as coffee, other beverages and fresh produce.
Plans call for having it open during school hours, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. It will be closed on Sunday.
Unique in another way for CLC, Suddick said it is the first time in the school’s history that a capital campaign was funded as a public-private partnership. Russell Bartemus approached her about the idea. Since there was no room in the budget at the time, a fundraising effort began.
Plans were made, Fournier was hired and the Waukegan City Council approved the project. Still, Suddick said before construction could start, $15 million had to come from donations. By October, $9.87 million was in the bank. The goal was reached earlier this year. The school added another $3 million to complete the needed $18 million,
Leigh Ann Jacobson, the executive director of the College of Lake County Foundation, said another $1.5 million will be raised toward the completion of the project.
