Federal Life Property
Update on Federal Life Building Redevelopment Project from March 21, 2025
The Federal Life building's demolition began on Tuesday, March 18, at 2:00 p.m. and will take about four weeks to complete. Please note that for those who may want to see this occur, there is no parking available on the site as it is a construction zone. The entry drive outside the entry gates must remain clear for construction and emergency vehicles access.
Update on Federal Life Building Redevelopment Project from March 14, 2025
The Village has been notified that the start of demolition of the Federal Life building structure will begin Tuesday, March 18 at 2:00 p.m. Please note that for those who may want to see this occur, there is no parking available on the site as it is a construction zone. The entry drive outside of the entry gates must remain clear for access by construction and emergency vehicles.
Update on Federal Life Building Redevelopment Project from March 4, 2025
The Federal Life contractor is working on recycling materials. The demolition date has not been scheduled, but the Village will receive a 48-hour notice. Tree and shrub removal will be completed after the tree removal project on Saunders Road is completed.
Update from December 17, 2024 Board of Trustees Meeting:
Bids will be received Friday 12/20/2024 for demolition of the Federal Life Building and the reservoir. Demolition work is anticipated to begin at the end of January 2025.
Update from November 19, 2024 Board of Trustees Meeting:
The Village is collaborating with WB Olson to finalize the demolition bid package. Upon approval of contracts by the Board, the demolition of the building is expected to begin the week of January 28, 2025, and conclude around April 10, 2025. Meanwhile, staff will meet with Police and Fire District personnel to confirm their training schedules.
Update on Federal Life Building Redevelopment Project from November 14, 2024:
The Federal Life Insurance Company built its headquarters at 3750 Deerfield Road in the early 1980’s, on a parcel of approximately 10 acres. The changes in economic life since then greatly lessened the need for office space. The company had been trying to market the site for many years. After a townhome development was rejected, the company asked the Village to consider acquiring the site for a public use.
During this time, Lake County had been negotiating to obtain a permanent easement over a substantial portion of the site to accommodate stormwater runoff as a result of the planned road widening project for Deerfield Road, now anticipated to begin in 2026.
The Village, collaborating with the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District, conceived a plan to combine resources to acquire the site and spin off a part to the District for a new fire station. The plan required collaboration with Lake County as well. The Village executed separate intergovernmental agreements with the District and Lake County.
The first phase of the plan was successfully implemented on October 31, 2024, when the acquisition closed and part of the site was conveyed to the District. The new subdivision of the parcel is partially reflected in the attached image, with labels to show the location of the new station, and expanded and future detention.
The District and Village will begin demolition of the existing building in the near future. Afterwards, engineering plans are being developed to design the new access road and grading for the stormwater. Under the Village’s agreement with Lake County, the County will pay for the stormwater work, which the Village hopes to finish in the fall of 2025. The District is examining options for the best window for constructing the new fire station without being hindered by the road widening project. Maintaining efficient emergency access throughout the period of road construction will be a top concern of all the governmental units – and it should be noted that the District will continue to operate Station 52 at 855 Saunders Road (next to the Riverwoods Police Station) until the new fire station is operational.
Details about the new fire station are being developed through a planning process but the District intends for the new building to be state-of-the art and to serve as the headquarters of the District.
More updates will be provided as they become available to report on progress in designing and implementing the site improvements.