Sightwell Scraps East Dundee Lumberyard Redevelopment Plan

Sightwell, the architects of the proposed redevelopment of an East Dundee lumberyard, recently informed village officials that they can no longer pursue their plans due to economic constraints.

The plans proposed a mixed-use development at Heritage Station that would include retail spaces, lodging suites above the retail space and several townhomes. The concept was first presented to East Dundee officials in August 2025. In a statement, Andy Burns, owner of West Dundee-based development firm Sightwell said that $2.5 million in proposed special tax funding for the project would have to be used on simply getting the location whittled down to a “blank canvas,” according to the Daily Herald.

Burns also stated that “walking away from this vision is not something we take lightly,” and “We were not willing to build something lesser just to make the math work,” according to the outlet.

For now, the lumberyard at 110 Railroad Street, a major artery in East Dundee’s downtown area, will remain a lumberyard. City plans to construct a $1.5 million soundstage next to the proposed performing arts center have been delayed to 2027 to better match future timings.

The update isn’t all doom and gloom for the project. While Sightwell backed away from the task, construction on the performing arts center continues to move forward, and the city will actively search for ways to carry out the development plan in phases, according to the publication. Village officials said they will also search out bids to convert Meier Street into a one-way to relieve traffic congestion in the downtown area of the village.

Sightwell’s original pitch carried an $18 million price tag, with funding to come from private investors as well as Tax Increment Financing from the village. The village planned to sell the property to Sightwell for a mere $10 to get the project rolling after buying it for $800,000 in 2023.

— Hunter Cooke