Lake County and the City of North Chicago have teamed together to officially launch the Sheridan Crossing Remediation Project, a major step toward transforming a long-vacant, 40-acre property into a vibrant new development. This project is expected to spur economic development and enhance the quality of life in North Chicago.
Located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Sheridan Road, directly across from Naval Station Great Lakes, the site has remained undeveloped for more than two decades due to soil contamination from former industrial uses. Recently, local officials gathered to mark the beginning of efforts to clean and revitalize the land.
City of North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham said, “This marks the beginning of what was and what will be. Once the site’s environmental issues are remediated, we will have a clean canvas that will enable us to do whatever we wish to do on this site which is a prime location for development. Our long-term vision is that this site will become the heart of North Chicago. We want to redevelop this property into a walkable downtown district, featuring multi-use buildings with commercial space on the ground floor and residences above, restaurants and a downtown hotel.”
“For two decades, we’ve envisioned a new multi-use development on this land for the citizens of North Chicago. With this project, we’re taking strategic steps to build community, strengthen our economy, create jobs, and build for the future,” he added.
Review several concept renderings for the site, taken from the CONC 2024 Comprehensive Plan, here: SHERIDAN CROSSING CONCEPT A and SHERIDAN CROSSING CONCEPT B
The project begins with soil remediation, which involves treating contaminated soil on-site before its safe disposal. The process will be conducted under the oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency.
With the support of U.S. Rep Brad Schneider, Lake County secured a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support the effort. The City of North Chicago also received Rebuild Illinois funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to assist with remediation costs.
As the applicant and recipient of the federal funds, Lake County is the administrative lead on the project. In August 2025, the County Board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of North Chicago outlining the roles and responsibilities for both entities. Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart said the effort by North Chicago to pursue this project is “nothing short of remarkable.”
Mayor Rockingham, Schneider, and other state and local officials officially broke ground on the Sheridan Crossing remediation project on September 5, 2025. At the groundbreaking Mayor Rockingham stated that a contract is already in place for the remediation project which should take approximately one year to complete.
During this time, North Chicago’s Economic Development team will perform market analyses to zero in on the highest and best end uses for the site. The team will then seek specific development proposals from local and national leaders in the industry to determine the final plan. Sheridan Crossing is a key part of the City’s vision to bring back commercial uses and amenities and represents a significant milestone towards completing numerous aspirations from the City’s award-winning 2024 Comprehensive Plan.
“What you see here is a field of dreams. Mayor Rockingham and the City Council had a vision, and they held onto it for two decades. If you hold onto the dream, it can become real. That’s what the $4 million in federal funding is for. It will create jobs and business opportunities for North Chicago,” said Congressman Schneider.
Build It & They Will Come
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