Architect champions walkability at Lake Bluff’s Stonebridge site

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Updated: February 27, 2012 8:45AM

The architect working with the Stonebridge development envisions creating a walkable neighborhood on the property that fronts Green Bay Road in Lake Bluff, integrating the homes with the Jens Jensen garden, the woods and the historic structures that remain on the property.

Bob Hidey of Robert Hidey Architects of Irvine, Calif., introduced himself to the Lake Bluff Village Board at its meeting Monday night and said he will return in February “with an overlay of five or six ideas” his firm has for the development owned by The Roanoke Group.

“I’m not here to share ideas. I’m on reconnaissance to understand Lake Bluff and the lifestyle here,” he told the board and handful of audience members.

When he looks at the land plan for Stonebridge, Hidey questions the attached housing units, shared driveways and the proliferation of cul de sacs that he said “basically take land away from what could be private-use areas.” Instead, he favors creating a neighborhood that will blend with the rest of Lake Bluff.

Walkability is important in creating a neighborhood, Hidey said. In the Stonebridge plan, that “seems to be sort of overlooked.”

“There should be linkage to the forest and connections to the ponds. You should be able to find your way to the Manor House,” which is supposed to have some public components, he said.

To create a sense of community, a neighborhood feel, Hidey said he believes he can create “an overlay of a pedestrian system to get to those amenities.”

Hidey noted that while he is from California, he grew up in a Frederick Law Olmsted-designed neighborhood, so understands the sense of community Stonebridge needs to succeed in Lake Bluff.

‘Beautiful garden’

While a neighborhood might result from an architectural style or street pattern, “the existing plan doesn’t really have those qualities,” he said.

Creating common areas for social settings and public gathering spaces are other key aspects. “It could be as simple as a picnic table in a beautiful garden,” he said.

Trustee Mark Dewart asked what will be the next step in the process.

Peter Kyte of The Roanoke Group said the development team views this as “a very collaborative process” and wants to gather feedback from village staff, trustees, commissions and residents before assigning definite dates.

“We’ll be back in a month” he said, “with lots of different conceptual floor plans to take out to different focus groups.”

That collaborative effort, Kyte said, “is going to be the key to success for us.”

Former trustee Rick Lesser, who was against the Stonebridge development from the outset when he was on the village board, thanked The Roanoke Group for its approach to the project.

“It’s a good idea,” he said. ‘I’m very glad to hear the new ideas, the larger lots, walkability, which is very important to people in Lake Bluff.”

Lesser said he is interested in seeing a development that is integrated into the community and offers public areas for such uses as the annual Fourth of July Firemen’s Ball and other events.