Months of pressure from federal, state and local officials — including a May grilling of then-U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro by U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth — led the Navy to take the first step toward potentially turning the abandoned Halsey Village subdivision in North Chicago into a multi-use development.
A 90-acre residential project with 352 homes that once housed Navy families, only 78 were occupied in August. Approximately 75% of the homes were uninhabitable. The Navy began the process of canceling its ground lease with Hunt Military Communities in August, but it took until December.
Before the Navy can entertain the idea of giving the land to North Chicago, Matt Mogle, the public affairs officer at Naval Station Great Lakes, said the homes must be demolished, the area “cleaned up” and environmental remediation undertaken. The Navy plans to take ownership of the property this year.
“The Navy intends to begin a multi-phase project, (including) demolition, environmental remediation and an evaluation of potential future uses for the site,” Mogel said in an email. “This project is expected to commence at some point this year and will continue over the next several years.”
The last remaining residents left Halsey Village in February, thus completing the initial step necessary for the start of a long-term project which will lead to either another military use or tendering to North Chicago the land roughly bounded by Green Bay Road, Buckley Road, Lewis Avenue and 25th Street.
“I’m proud to see real progress being made as we chart a path forward and remediate the deplorable housing conditions over the next few years,” Duckworth said in an email. “I will continue working with leaders from Lake County, North Chicago and the Navy as this land is transformed.”
Along with Duckworth, U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, worked with Navy personnel to find a remedy for Halsey Village. He said in an email he looks “forward to continuing to work with our local leaders to support this effort.”
“Halsey Village has been neglected for too long,” Schneider said in the email. “It’s a great relief to take a meaningful step toward reimagining and redeveloping this land for the betterment of North Chicago and the entire region.”
While the Navy is undergoing its demolition, remediation and analysis, North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. said the city plans to work on a plan for a potential project on the 90 acres which conforms with the city’s comprehensive plan.
Working closely with Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart, D-Lake Bluff, Rockingham said he wants to show the Navy what can be done with the land to enhance both the city, and with it, the neighboring Navy base.
“North Chicago is doing a parallel path,” Rockingham said. “We’ll be able to show the Navy what is possible, and what is the best use of the property. We will be a resource for what can be here.”
Gregory Jackson, Rockingham’s chief of staff, said the plan will likely have mixed-use buildings on the east side of Green Bay and Buckley roads, with retail or office use on the ground floor and residences on the upper floors. It will be complementary to the incubator at Rosalind Franklin University.
East of Green Bay Road, Jackson said the city envisions affordable housing in conjunction with Community Partners for Affordable Housing, larger three- and four-bedroom homes for people with growing families and housing geared to individuals 55 and over, particularly military veterans.
With Fortune 100 companies Abbott and AbbVie headquartered in North Chicago and employing thousands of people, Jackson said as employees rise through the ranks there and their families grow as well, they often look outside of North Chicago for a place to live.
“A lot of our housing stock are starter homes,” Jackson said. “We need more three- and four-bedroom homes to give people a reason to stay in North Chicago.”
With Naval Station Great Lakes being the Navy’s sole training center for recruits, it is one thing all enlisted personnel have in common. Jackson said the senior housing is planned with those individuals in mind.
“(The Capt. James E. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center) is here, and so are recreational facilities like the golf course,” Jackson said. “We want to give veterans a nice place to live, which they deserve.”
Adding Halsey Village’s 90 acres to North Chicago’s real estate tax base is another benefit.
Rockingham said the city, schools, Park District and the county will receive tax revenue if the land becomes part of the city. Approximately 31% of North Chicago is part of the base and generates no tax dollars.
“I’ve had talks with the captain about what we would do with the land either if we get it, or develop it on a long-term ground lease,” Rockingham said. “Either way, tax dollars will be generated from the project.”
Hart said finally emptying Halsey Village of residents is progress from where the situation has been for a long time. She is working closely with Rockingham, and is in agreement with the ideas he has for development.
“I’m glad something is being done to assure military families a better place to live,” Hart said. “We are working with North Chicago. It will be good for the people of North Chicago and all of Lake County. It will provide jobs and commercial opportunities, too.”
