Winchester House Demolition Moves Forward

Libertyville IL

16 August, 2021

11:54 AM

Description

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — The former Winchester House along Milwaukee Avenue will be demolished. The Lake County Board voted last week to award a $2.75 million contract to McDonagh Demolition Incorporated of Chicago for the demolition and site restoration of the site, which is located on the northwest corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Winchester Road. GET MORE LIBERTYVILLE NEWS: BECOME A PATCH SUBSCRIBER As part of their contract, McDonagh will be tasked with abatement of any environmental hazards, removal of in-ground infrastructure and demolition of the primary structure and satellite buildings, according to county board documents. The site served as a nursing home for decades but first opened in 1847 as a poor farm. For many years, there was a waiting list to get into the nursing home and "all of a sudden we had all these open beds," Lake County Board member Ann Maine said during last week's meeting. "...there was the movement to have people live at home or at all these assisted living facilities that kind of allowed for a gradation and suddenly not only was there not a waiting list we had many many open beds," Maine said. In 2005, county officials started taking a look at what to do with the financial drain. Maine said county officials decided to layoff staff. From there, studies were conducted to look at a way to reuse the property but the "building is old and there's asbestos." Renovations were deemed to be too costly, and demolition of the facility was approved as part of the 2020 fiscal year budget. In 2020, the new 185-bed Thrive of Lake County opened in Mundelein on a former driving range at Route 45 southeast of Route 83 in Mundelein. All 98 Winchester House residents and staff were moved there.