Source:
http://www.thebaratfoundation.org/documents/BaratWoodsPurchaseReleaseFINAL12506.pdf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Betsy Sales
January 25, 2006
(312) 943-1955
BARAT WOODS/BEF COLLABORATION CREATES A WIN FOR THE
COMMUNITY
DePaul University sells Barat Campus to partners in housing and
education
(Lake Forest, IL) The Barat Education Foundation (BEF) announced
today that it has collaborated with Barat Woods LLC, managed by local Lake
Forest developer Robert Shaw, to purchase the 23-acre Barat Campus from DePaul
University.
"The Foundation has spent the last two years searching for a
partner that would embrace our
mission of education, social responsibility
and community participation," said BEF chairman
Sheila Smith. "We are
absolutely thrilled that this collaboration will allow the Foundation
to
continue the Barat legacy on the campus."
"Bob Shaw has a proven track
record in Lake Forest of developing projects that enhance our
community,"
said Lake Forest Mayor S. Michael Rummel. "Bob knows Lake Forest, and
I
believe the redevelopment plan that he brings forward will be sensitive to
the issues that are
important to our community, including historic
preservation, open space, traffic volumes and high
quality development. We
are pleased that this collaboration with the Barat Education Foundation
will
also allow the BEF to remain and further its mission in our community."
The
agreement to sell the property was reached after more than a year of discussion
with many
parties that expressed interest in the property since the DePaul
University's Board of Trustees
announced the campus would close at the
conclusion of the 2004-05 academic year. DePaul
worked closely with the City
of Lake Forest and a public planning task force to identify a
mutually
acceptable and viable use for the land. The BEF united with Shaw to
exercise its right of first
opportunity to purchase the property if it were
not sold to an educational, religious or civic
organization.
"DePaul is
proud of its collaboration with the city to envision a high quality, low impact
concept
for the neighborhood, and particularly pleased that BEF's involvement
signals a continuity of
concern for the City of Lake Forest and its
residents," said the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider,
C.M., DePaul's
president.
Though actual development plans have yet to be finalized, the
developer's vision is to create a
multi-faceted residential community on the
campus property. Old Main, the original college
structure, will be adaptively
reused and converted into condominiums. The expansive south lawn,
remembered
by many as the site of the Barat "Shakespeare on the Green" festivals, will
be
protected and remain as is or enhanced.
"As a longtime resident of Lake
Forest, I am committed to creating a residential development that
will
protect and preserve this historic, beautiful property while building housing
that will appeal to
a wide range of buyers," Shaw said. "This project is both
challenging and exciting. We look
forward to working with city government,
preservation-minded organizations and local residents
to create a residential
development that will enhance the Lake Forest community."
The BEF has a
promising future as well. "Since our inception in 2000, the BEF has provided
over
$1 million for scholarships and program support," Smith said. "In
addition, the BEF American
Memory Program was the recipient of a federal
grant, which has enabled more than 400 teachers
and 5,000 students in Lake
County to participate in our program."
# # # #
The Barat Education
Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) organization that was established
in
2000 prior to the closing of the alliance with DePaul to maintain the
Barat legacy. The
Foundation was charged with the development and support of
innovative educational programs
and services that reflected the values and
educational tradition of Barat College and St.
Madeleine Sophie Barat,
foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart. For more information on
the
Foundation and its programs, please visit
www.TheBaratFoundation.org.
Robert G. Shaw serves as
principal officer and owner of various local residential real
estate
companies including Academy Woods Ltd., The Preserve of Middlefork
Farm and Barat Woods
LLC. Mr. Shaw has been actively involved in various
community activities including city
government (Lake Forest Caucus and ad
hoc, senior housing, historic preservation and finance
advisory committees)
and serves on the boards of the Lake Forest Symphony, Lake Forest Health
and
Fitness Center, Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Historical Society, Lake Forest Senior
Cottage
Foundation and the Elawa Farm Foundation.