beautiful and historic that needed to be protected

The master plan for the Town of Fort Sheridan purposefully did not include commercial businesses. Per Steve Mandel, former Highland Park City Council Member, “We had something beautiful and historic that needed to be protected; that was the main goal.” From the Crain's story, Tale of Two Developments, 'Fort Sheridan's restored historical buildings and 54-acre parade ground are picturesque and its housing secluded in a way that little on the densifying North Shore is anymore.' Below you can read Crain's - Tale of Two Developments from June 2014 to learn more about why The Fort doesn't have commercial businesses.

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There were only two nonresidential businesses allowed in the Fort, the non-profit Midwest Young Artists Conservatory and the art studio (Rotblatt-Amrany Studio). The MYA was fortunate to receive their building in the Fort. A wonderful gift for their organization to get their historic building for practically nothing, and in such a pristine location. Sadly, it's now the MYA who is ignoring the original master plan of the Fort, and attempting to build a large scale commercial venue that would upend this unique, historic neighborhood.