Lake County Gazette

Lake County has announced a partnership with the City of North Chicago to initiate the Sheridan Crossing Remediation Project. This initiative aims to clean up and prepare a 40-acre site, which has remained unused for years, for future development.

According to Lake County, the Sheridan Crossing site is located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Sheridan Road, across from Naval Station Great Lakes. The property has been unused for decades due to contaminated soil from previous industrial operations. Local officials have formally begun the remediation process, emphasizing that the land is considered a key redevelopment opportunity. The cleanup phase will address soil hazards through treatment and safe disposal methods, with oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure compliance with environmental standards.

Once remediation is complete, plans are in place to redevelop the site into a mixed-use district designed around walkability. Lake County states that plans include retail and commercial businesses at street level, with residential units on upper floors. The redevelopment is expected to create a downtown-style area for North Chicago, supporting economic activity, improving housing options, and providing new community spaces near the Naval Station.

Project funding includes a $4 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and contributions from Rebuild Illinois through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Lake County serves as the administrative lead, overseeing federal fund management and coordination. In August 2025, an agreement was approved between Lake County and North Chicago defining each government’s role in ensuring collaboration throughout remediation and redevelopment stages.

The Lake County Board comprises 19 elected members representing different districts responsible for approving county budgets, financial matters, and ordinances affecting government departments. Meetings are held both in person at the County Administrative Tower in Waukegan or remotely via Zoom. Schedules and agendas are available online, with sessions viewable live on LCTV.