Apartment Developer Eyes Algonquin Road Location

A Northbrook-based developer is eyeing property northeast of Algonquin and Pyott roads, near the , for the site of two new apartment buildings.

Representatives of Banner Apartments on Monday presented sketch plans for the proposed Prairie Trail Apartments to the Lake in the Hills Planning and Zoning Commission. The developers are looking to construct the two apartment buildings on a vacant property at 1000 W. Algonquin Road.

The eastern portion of the property borders the village of Algonquin. The back of the lot is filled with wetlands and is meant to one day connect to the McHenry County Prairie Trail, developer associate Chris Hooker said.

“We’ve had preliminary conversations with the county road department, and we have to apply for a major access permit” to Algonquin Road, Hooker told commissioners. “We will probably have to do a traffic study.”

The developers discussed the possibility of linking the apartment buildings to the frontage road that connects Pyott Road to the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District headquarters at 1020 W. Algonquin Road.

Both the commissioners and the developer said the project might be limited to a right-turn-only entrance, right-turn only exit onto busy Algonquin Road.

Hooker said his company had not determined what type of apartments it would offer, such as one-, two- or three-bedroom units.

“We’re still in the concept stage,” Hooker said. “We’re still working on doing a market study … I think out here the units will fill up very well.”

The development company must finalize its contract to purchase the land before appearing before the planning and zoning commission in the future.