SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. (May 7, 2008) – With a name that implies verdant treescapes, and retailers that include a luxury cinema and an upscale bowling and bocce bistro, it should be no surprise that The Jaffe Companies is about to install one of the nation’s largest and richest retail landscapes at The Arboretum of South Barrington. Beginning in May, contractors will begin planting a total of 2,700 trees and 30,000 shrubs, perennials and grasses at the 600,000-square-foot lifestyle center that is due to open this fall. According to Mike Jaffe, owner/developer of the center, the intention is to create an ambiance similar to that of lush manor grounds.
"We are surrounded by some of the most expensive homes in Chicagoland,” he says. “It's only appropriate that our landscaping be lush and special. We are committed to honor the history of the nursery that operated here for many years by an unsurpassed landscape plan that would be the talk of the suburbs."
“It’s very unusual to have this many species and number of trees and plants going in any commercial project,” says Landscape Architect Lee Richardson of Atlanta-based Lee Richardson & Associates. Richardson, who primarily designs landscaping for lifestyle centers, mixed-use developments and corporate campuses across the country, says The Arboretum is spending twice as much on landscaping than most upscale shopping centers or lifestyle centers spend.
Variety of Trees
Plans include 80 species of shade and ornamental trees selected for their hardiness against snow and the residual salt from de-icing. “We’re mixing the species quite a bit to ensure their health, but you’ll still have blocks of similar colors for interest in the fall,” Mr. Richardson says. “For example, we’ll do some grouping of maple, oaks, linden and locust. The trees are coming from 4 to 5 nurseries within a 60-mile radius, and will vary in size, shape, and age to create an established, mature look by the time the center opens.”
Lee Keenan of Wauconda-based Countryside Industries, landscape contractor for The Arboretum, echoes Mr. Richardson’s comments. “Many trees coming in will be more mature than people are used to seeing in a new project,” he says. “Some will be 7 inches in diameter and 25 feet tall.” The larger trees will include Elm, Autumn Blaze Maple, Turkish Filbert, Kentucky Coffeetree, and Golden Raindrop Crabapple.
Perennials, Shrubs & Grasses
Mr. Keenan says that among the 20,000 perennials planned are Purple Coneflowers, numerous types of Daylilies, Catmint, Russian Sage, Salvia, Peonies, and many others. “We have worked with nurseries to get improved varieties of some of these perennials; it should give us longer bloom times and hardier plants.”
He says there will be nearly 10,000 grasses planted, including Feather Reed and Prairie Drop Seed Grasses.
“The landscaping will really make the place stand out, with counts and mixes that are designed to give interest throughout the year. We are also trying to incorporate The Arboretum’s nursery history in the design of the entire site.”
Tribute to a Tree Farm Past
The Arboretum of South Barrington occupies 86 acres of a 610-acre site that once belonged to Klehm’s Nursery. In the late ‘90s, the Klehms sold the tract to a residential development called The Woods of South Barrington, and in 1999, its trustees designated an 86-acre portion for commercial use. In 2006, it was announced that the retail development on this site would be a very unique lifestyle center called “The Arboretum of South Barrington,” a name paying homage to its famous roots.
“The tree nursery was one of the finest in the area,” says Jonathan Payne, one of the development principals for The Jaffe Companies. Roy Klehm, a fourth generation nurseryman, is not only known for growing great trees and shrubs, but is also known worldwide as one of the foremost authorities on Peonies. He has been featured on Martha Stewart’s television show and his Song Sparrow Farm Nursery in Wisconsin was featured on the cover of Living in 1994.
Mr. Klehm’s other nursery in nearby Poplar Grove, Ill., is one of a handful of nurseries the developer selected to provide trees and shrubs for The Arboretum landscape. “Some of Roy Klehm’s favorite plants will be incorporated into two specific sites we’ve set aside for him,” says Mr. Payne. These areas will be sitting gardens that will include some varieties that Mr. Klehm introduced and are being adapted by the Chicago Botanical Gardens.
Expert Landscape Team
“We knew we had a grandiose plan that required a large budget and the best people to execute it,” says The Arboretum’s Mr. Payne. “With Lee Richardson and Countryside Industries we clearly have that. Lee Richardson has worked on large upscale projects across the country, and Countryside has worked on high-profile projects in the Chicago area. So, the creativity is matched with the stability of what works in South Barrington.
Mr. Richardson served as landscape architect for such properties as the Motorola campus in Chicago, Renaissance at Colony Park (Miss.), Destin Commons Mall (Fla.), and Promenade Shops at Centerra (Colo.). Countryside Industries’ landscaping projects include those for The Glen Town Center in Glenview, Ill., Deer Park Town Center in Deer Park, Ill., and The Park at Lakeshore East in Chicago.
“We’re very proud of The Arboretum’s landscape and the team behind it,” says Mr. Payne. “We really look forward to unveiling these grounds to the public when the center opens this fall.”
The Arboretum of South Barrington is a 600,000 square-foot lifestyle center under development in Chicago’s affluent northwest suburbs, with completion scheduled for fall 2008. The open-air center, which broke ground in May 2007, is named for the lush treescapes and gardens of its landscape, and for the large tree farm that formerly stood on the site. Among retailers at The Arboretum of South Barrington are three unique anchors, including the country’s first Village Road Show Gold Class Cinemas, a luxury cinema experience and the new way to go to the movies; LL Bean’s first Midwest outdoor gear and apparel store; and Pinstripes, Chicago’s own bowling, bocce and bistro concept. An upscale mix of fashion apparel brands, home furnishings, restaurants and other retailers are also planned -- all less than a mile from the four-way interchange at I-90 ( the region’s major transportation artery), at the highly coveted intersection of Illinois Routes 59 and 72. Other retailers signed include Arhaus, Anna Shea Chocolates & Lounge, Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, Jos. A. Bank, Ann Taylor Loft, Victoria’s Secret, DSW, Panera Bread, and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.
The Jaffe Companies, owner and developer of The Arboretum of South Barrington, has been developing successful shopping centers and mixed-use projects for nearly two decades across the US, primarily in the Midwest. Firm principal Michael Jaffe has been involved in several notable projects, including Huebner Oaks Center, a 400,000-square-foot lifestyle center in San Antonio, Texas; Geneva Commons, a 450,000-square-foot lifestyle center in Geneva, Ill; and Orchard Grove Shopping Center in Aurora, Ill.
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