Developer proposes apartment building, commercial space for former Hines Lumber property in downtown Crystal Lake

Cullinan Properties has proposed turning the long-vacant Hines Lumber property in Crystal Lake into a mixed-use complex with a 160-unit apartment building and a commercial building next door that developers said they hope will be a “big boost” to the downtown area.

The planned apartment building would be on the south end of the property at 95 E. Crystal Lake Ave. and the commercial would be near the intersection, with a corner public plaza on Crystal Lake Avenue and Main Street, according to documents provided to the city by the developer. The plaza would have outdoor seating and be adjacent to Prairie Trail.

Cullinan Properties wants to break ground on the project by mid-2021, Sean Garrett, the firm’s president of acquisitions, said at a City Council meeting. If things move well, occupants could be in the residential building at some point in 2022.

Regarding the commercial building, Cullinan is looking at some early indications from “a couple exciting tenants,” Garrett said. It could be a multi-tenant building or have just one or two tenants, but more than likely, he said, it’s going to be a single restaurant with a patio area that blends into the plaza and has outdoor seating.

This development is transit-oriented, meaning that Cullinan expects some renters will use the nearby Metra train daily to commute.

“That’s exciting, and there’s not a ton of that opportunity in Crystal Lake at the moment,” Garrett told the Northwest Herald. “You’re starting to see it in other communities like Barrington.”

Rent for these apartments is going to be geared toward higher-income earners, such as younger professionals, those who are established in their career, and retirees, Garrett said.

A number of amenities are planned for the site, including a gym, a clubhouse, dog area, and grill and fire pit. But the real amenity, Garrett said, will be the development’s proximity to the downtown area.

“The people that are going to live here are living here specifically because they’re already within walking distance to the Metra, as well as to the bars and restaurants and shops downtown,” he said.

Though the plan is for about 160 units at this point, some of the units will likely have at least two people living in them, he said. That could translate to more than 200 renters.

“That’s 200 people that now live within a couple of blocks from all the restaurants and everything,” Garrett said. “They’re rather affluent renters, so they’ve got the discretionary income to spend on dining and shops. I think it’ll be a big boost to the downtown area.”

The former Hines Lumber property was previously approved for a mixed-use development, but according to city documents, the developer did not come forward for final approval because of the economic recession.

Another conceptual review was presented for a different mixed-use development in 2016, but this never came forward for either preliminary or final approval.

At a City Council meeting Tuesday, council members expressed enthusiasm for Cullinan’s project. Among them was council member Cameron Hubbard, who said he liked everything the developers put together.

“This is exciting, to see a development like this come to the downtown Crystal Lake area,” Hubbard said. “I like the direction this is moving. I think staff’s got a good idea of what the council would be in favor of.”

Council members also discussed whether the development should be a horizontal or vertically oriented.

Council member Mandy Montford said while she loves the creative aspect of the project and thinks a horizontal mixed-use setup would be a better use of the space, she had concerns about the lack of green space a horizontal design could cause.

Garrett said he thought creating a vertical mixed-use project might be costly and complicated.

“The parking is really expensive in any sort of vertical mixed-use project. In order to get that density, you have to get structured parking. It really adds to the cost,” he said.

In addition, Garrett said, vertical mixed-use spaces are more difficult to lease and are more expensive.

No vote was taken at the Tuesday City Council meeting where Cullinan Properties’ development was discussed. Community Development Director Michelle Rentzsch said the developer’s presentation was an opportunity for them to get the council’s feedback.

“The city has had a lot of development interest in this property,” Rentzsch said.