Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
While Joliet may be the fourth largest city in Illinois, neighboring Shorewood now has considerably more new development underway. SHOREWOOD, IL — If you've driven through Shorewood during the past month, you can't help but notice the huge hills of dirt dotting the landscape. Talk about a growth spurt, the village of 18,000 people now has five major construction projects all underway at once. Shorewood has not experienced this type of development since prior to the economic recession of 2008, according to the village's economic development director Natalie Engel. The new Rusty Ridge Animal Center is at the northwest corner of U.S. Route 52 and Wynstone Drive, coming into Shorewood's village limits from the west. The business will offer emergency veterinary care, regular vet care, surgery, boarding, grooming and dog daycare, according to Shorewood. The Rusty Ridge development is 9 acres total. The vet clinic takes about 2 acres, and the remainder is available for future development, Shorewood officials noted. "They're hoping to be open by the end of the year," Engel remarked. Across the street from the Rusty Ridge is one of Shorewood's most highly anticipated projects in years: the new Shorewood YMCA, which will include an indoor swimming pool. The Shorewood YMCA is in its final stretch of construction, and the building could be ready for its grand opening within the next six months. More details of the YMCA are covered near the bottom of this story. After Village Approval In 2022, The Hamptons of Shorewood Finally Underway With the additions of Rusty Ridge and the new YMCA, the Illinois Department of Transportation has approved the village's plans to install a traffic light at the intersection of Wynstone Drive and Route 52. The new traffic light should be operating by the spring. There are also three major housing developments now underway, new construction that could add as many as 1,800 people to Shorewood once these subdivisions are completed. One of these developments is by Ed Mattox of the Kipling Group, the controversial Joliet apartment developer, who has been building new homes and apartment complexes throughout the region for more than 40 years. Back in 2022, in a split 5-2 vote, Shorewood's Village Board approved Mattox's development dubbed The Hamptons, and construction finally began this fall, and it's moving at a fast clip. The Hamptons of Shorewood is a short walk from the Shorewood's Village Hall, at Wynstone and Route 52/Jefferson Street. It's designated as a mixed-use development of commercial, residential and recreational. The Hamptons development is along 31.5 acres and the projected population for the entire development is around 500 people. The Hamptons of Shorewood will feature three kinds of buildings: two consist of mixed-use retail on the ground-level and upper-story living; along with townhome-style buildings with attached garages; and rental homes in small buildings. When construction is finished, there will be 175 rental homes ranging from 1,100 to 1,267 square feet. All will be two bedrooms and two bathrooms. As for his townhomes, Mattox will construct 72 units, and each will have its own entrance, a private indoor garage and a rear patio or balcony. Walking and bicycle paths will be built along the roads and along the pond. Mattox is adding a clubhouse, a swimming pool and recreation areas for residents of The Hamptons. According to Shorewood, 7-acres along Route 52/Jefferson Street will be designated for future retail that will be developed by others. Engel said it's her understanding that the retail portion of The Hamptons is being finalized. "I know they're talking to prospects. We're really hoping for a coffee shop little restaurant, maybe boutique stuff," she said. Towne Center II: $450,990 Average New Home Price Separately, west of Wynstone Drive and north of Village Hall is another housing development, and this one's being built by Lennar. Towne Center II just got underway on 60 acres at Peyton Terrace and Wynstone and it's 139 single-family homes, no apartments or townhouses. The projected population for The Town Center II subdivision is 500 people and Lennar notified Shorewood officials that its average selling price for new homes will be $450,990. Lennar is putting up six model homes: two ranch models and four two-story models. New homes for Towne Center II will range from 1,866 square feet for a ranch to 2,907 square feet for a two-story. All the homes will have two or three-car garages and all the homes will have partial or full basement. "A multi-use path will run north along Wynstone, ultimately taking pedestrians and cyclists up to Black Road. Although this is a deviation from the original plan, it is consistent with the design for Wynstone Drive through Walnut Trails, Shorewood Glen and Kipling Estates and will be more straightforward for maintenance," village documents show. Auburn Chase: 277 New Homes For Shorewood's Seil Road Just west of Shorewood's Four Seasons Park and Troy Fire Station No. 2, Lennar is simultaneously building another new subdivision. This development, called Auburn Chase, is on the south side of Seil Road and consists of 277 single-family homes on 100 acres. This new subdivision calls for a projected population of 800 people. Back in February, Lennar notified Shorewood that its average selling price for Auburn Chase will be $411,785. Auburn Chase will feature two large ponds, and one will have a walking path. Auburn Chase will have a tot lot, a children's playground and a private dog park for its residents. "The project will be designed to accommodate access to the property next door which is owned by the Minooka Grade School District," the village's reports indicate. Auburn Chase has two different styles: 144 of its homes will be built on small lots while the remaining 133 homes will be dubbed larger-lot homes. One series will include an 1,137-square-foot, two-bedroom ranch to a 1,995-square-foot four-bedroom, two-story model. The other series for Auburn Chase will range from 1,455-square-foot, three-bedroom ranches to 2,607-square-foot four-bedroom, two-story models. All 277 new homes will have basements. New Shorewood YMCA Will Feature 8-Lane Indoor Swimming Pool As for the new Village of Shorewood YMCA at 1801 West Jefferson Street, back in March 2024 the village and the YMCA joined forces to build the 60,000-square-foot YMCA along Route 52, across the road from Shorewood's Village Hall. Sitework began in September 2024. When the Y opens, it will offer youth program rooms, an aquatics center with an eight-lane indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, an indoor walking track and a fitness facility. There will be studios for group exercising, a demonstration kitchen, gathering and meeting rooms. Outside its building, YMCA staff will offer summer camps, youth sports as well as before and after school programs. According to Shorewood, the new YMCA is scheduled to open in "early 2026."
