Proposed Heritage Farms site plan for the northwest corner of Route 6 and Cedar Road in New Lenox. The 105-acre concept includes multiple housing types, commercial space and a public park. Source: Village of New Lenox Plan Commission packet.
Heritage Farms is a proposed 105.2-acre mixed-use development at the northwest corner of Route 6 and North Cedar Road in New Lenox. The plan combines single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, senior housing, commercial space, a public park and major road improvements. The New Lenox Plan Commission has recommended the project move forward, but not without asking for some significant changes first.
Updated October 8, 2026.
New Lenox has no shortage of new construction right now.
But Heritage Farms is different.
This isn't one subdivision with one type of house.
The proposal covers more than 105 acres at Route 6 and Cedar Road and combines several different types of housing with commercial development, senior living, a public park and new road infrastructure.
And if the project ultimately moves forward, it could significantly change one of New Lenox's busiest growth corridors.
- Location: Northwest corner of Route 6 and North Cedar Road in New Lenox.
- Size: Approximately 105.2 acres.
- Single-family: Roughly 33 acres proposed for detached homes.
- Higher-density residential: Roughly 58 acres planned for a mix that includes townhomes, apartments and senior housing.
- Commercial: Roughly 13 acres near Route 6 and Cedar Road.
- Open space: Plans include an approximately 9-acre public park and multi-use trails.
- Status: Recommended by the New Lenox Plan Commission with multiple requested revisions; final Village Board approval has not been established.
- Next step: Revised plans and a development agreement before the proposal moves to the Village Board.
What Is Heritage Farms?
Heritage Farms is being proposed as a large mixed-use development rather than a traditional single-purpose subdivision.
The approximately 105.2-acre site sits at the northwest corner of U.S. Route 6 and North Cedar Road.
The proposal calls for the property to be divided among several zoning and development types:
- detached single-family homes,
- townhomes,
- multi-family apartments,
- senior housing,
- commercial development,
- park space, and
- trails and infrastructure improvements.
The New Lenox Plan Commission continued its public hearing on the proposal on August 18 and recommended that the project move forward, but commissioners also requested a substantial list of changes before the development reaches the Village Board.
This Is More Than Another Subdivision
The size gets your attention first.
But the mix of uses is what makes Heritage Farms especially significant.
| Area | Proposed Use |
|---|---|
| About 33 acres | Detached single-family residential |
| About 58 acres | Townhomes, apartments and senior residential uses |
| About 13 acres | Commercial development near Route 6 and Cedar Road |
That means somebody could eventually live in a detached house, townhome, apartment or senior community within the same larger development area.
It also gives Heritage Farms the potential to add more shopping and dining options along Route 6 rather than functioning entirely as a residential neighborhood.
Restaurants and Grocery Stores Have Already Shown Interest
The commercial portion may end up being one of the pieces residents notice most.
Planning records discussed during the Heritage Farms review indicated interest from two sit-down restaurant operators along with interest from multiple grocery operators.
That interest reportedly increased after approval of a dedicated left-turn lane allowing traffic from Route 6 into the development.
That doesn't mean two restaurants and a new grocery store are officially coming.
No specific restaurant or grocery tenant should be considered confirmed at this point.
October 8 Update: New Housing Renderings and Companies Identified
Additional drawings in the August 18, 2026 New Lenox Plan Commission packet show proposed home designs and identify companies associated with different portions of Heritage Farms. These are submitted planning materials, not confirmation that final building contracts or approvals are in place.
D.R. Horton Appears on Single-Family and Attached-Home Plans
D.R. Horton branding appears on architectural elevation sheets for proposed detached single-family homes and attached housing. The materials show several home designs, including two-story detached houses and attached-home buildings. The drawings help illustrate what is being considered, but the final homebuilder and product mix have not been independently confirmed.
Quarterra Appears on Emblem Apartment and Townhome Plans
Quarterra is named on drawings for the Emblem Heritage Farms portion of the proposal. The packet includes three-story multifamily buildings, apartment floor plans, and two-story townhomes with attached garages. Quarterra is known for developing multifamily rental communities, but the submitted drawings alone do not establish the final ownership or rental arrangements for every proposed residence.
The Emblem materials also depict a clubhouse, outdoor swimming pool and other shared amenities. These remain proposed features.
Senior-Living Parcel: Buyer Not Publicly Identified
The proposed senior-living property has been marketed through Marcus & Millichap, with Turkowitz identified as the listing broker. According to information obtained from the broker, a buyer has been identified, but the buyer's identity is not being disclosed at this time. Additional information may become available in the coming months.
That does not establish that a sale has closed or that a particular senior-living operator has been selected. No senior-living developer or operator is being identified as confirmed at this stage.
The Housing Plan Is Where Commissioners Pushed Back
Although the Plan Commission recommended Heritage Farms move forward, commissioners were not comfortable with every part of the residential plan.
One of the biggest issues involved lot width.
The proposal included single-family lots as narrow as approximately 45 feet.
Commissioners pushed for a 60-foot minimum lot width instead.
They also asked for garage and driveway widths to increase from approximately 18 feet to 20 feet.
Those may sound like small measurements on a plan sheet, but they can substantially change how a finished subdivision looks and feels.
Narrower lots generally place homes closer together and allow more homes to fit within the same amount of land.
They Also Questioned Slab Foundations and Exterior Materials
The discussion went beyond lot sizes.
Commissioners also objected to parts of the proposed home construction package.
Among the requested revisions were:
- basements or crawl spaces instead of slab-on-grade foundations for single-family homes and townhomes,
- more masonry or Hardie-type exterior materials on the first floor,
- less reliance on vinyl siding, and
- additional exterior variations intended to prevent rows of homes from looking too repetitive.
Those requested changes could affect both the appearance of the neighborhood and potentially the cost of constructing the homes.
But at this stage, they are still part of the planning and negotiation process rather than final construction requirements.
Apartments and Senior Housing Are Part of the Plan Too
The higher-density portion of Heritage Farms includes more than townhomes.
The concept also includes luxury-style multi-family apartments along with a dedicated senior housing component.
Commissioners raised questions about parking for both uses.
They requested additional parking for the senior residential portion and also discussed detached garages for the apartment buildings that would better match the architecture of the main buildings.
The senior component is worth watching because it continues a broader trend in New Lenox toward adding more housing options for residents who may no longer want a traditional detached house.
Route 6 and Cedar Road Would Change Too
A project this large isn't only about what gets built inside the property.
It also affects the roads around it.
The current Heritage Farms plan includes a dedicated left-turn entrance from Route 6.
The access configuration discussed during planning would not allow vehicles to make a left turn from the development back onto Route 6 at that location.
Cedar Road would also receive approximately 800 feet of widening north from Summerfield Drive.
Those improvements are intended to handle additional traffic generated by the residential and commercial portions of the project.
Traffic will likely remain one of the biggest things to watch as the plan gets closer to Village Board review.
There Is Also a 9-Acre Public Park
Not everything on the site would become housing or commercial property.
The Heritage Farms plan includes an approximately 9-acre public park along with a network of multi-use trails.
That would add another piece of public open space to the development and create pedestrian and bicycle connections through parts of the property.
Exactly how those connections ultimately fit into the surrounding trail and sidewalk network will become clearer as the site plan is revised.
So Is Heritage Farms Approved?
Not yet.
This is an important distinction.
The New Lenox Plan Commission has recommended the project move forward, but the Plan Commission does not provide the final Village approval.
The developer is expected to revise the plans to address issues including:
- single-family lot widths,
- driveway and garage widths,
- basements and crawl spaces,
- exterior building materials,
- apartment garages, and
- senior housing parking.
Those revisions would then become part of continued negotiations over the development agreement before the annexation, rezoning and planned-unit-development approvals move to the New Lenox Village Board.
Why Heritage Farms Matters
New Lenox already has several large residential projects moving through the pipeline.
Heritage Farms stands out because it attempts to put several pieces together in one location.
New single-family homes.
Townhomes.
Apartments.
Senior housing.
Restaurants and retail.
A public park.
Trails.
And road improvements at Route 6 and Cedar Road.
If everything ultimately gets built, this is the type of project that could influence what this part of New Lenox looks like for years.
The Bottom Line
Heritage Farms has moved beyond the earliest conceptual stage, but it is not a done deal.
The Plan Commission has recommended the approximately 105-acre development while also making it clear that commissioners want meaningful changes to portions of the housing plan.
The commercial component may eventually attract restaurants, grocery or other retail uses, but no individual business should be treated as confirmed yet.
The next important step will be seeing what the revised development looks like when it reaches the Village Board.
That's when we'll get a much better idea of which parts of Heritage Farms survive the planning process and which parts change before construction can begin.
- Heritage Farms is proposed for approximately 105.2 acres at Route 6 and North Cedar Road in New Lenox.
- The project includes single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, senior housing and commercial development.
- D.R. Horton and Quarterra branding appears on different proposed housing drawings; final builder commitments have not been established.
- A buyer has reportedly been identified for the senior-living property, but the broker has not disclosed the buyer’s identity.
- Approximately 13 acres are planned for commercial use.
- Planning records have discussed interest from sit-down restaurants and grocery operators, but no individual tenant is confirmed.
- The project includes an approximately 9-acre public park and multi-use trails.
- Cedar Road would be widened for approximately 800 feet north of Summerfield Drive.
- The Plan Commission pushed back on 45-foot lots, slab foundations, exterior materials and parking.
- Heritage Farms has been recommended by the Plan Commission but still requires additional revisions and Village Board action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Heritage Farms in New Lenox?
Heritage Farms is proposed for an approximately 105.2-acre site at the northwest corner of U.S. Route 6 and North Cedar Road in New Lenox.
How large is Heritage Farms?
The current proposal covers approximately 105.2 acres.
What types of homes are planned at Heritage Farms?
The proposal includes detached single-family homes, two-story townhomes, multi-family apartments and a senior housing component.
Which builders are associated with Heritage Farms?
D.R. Horton branding appears on submitted single-family and attached-home drawings, while Quarterra is identified on Emblem multifamily and townhome plans. These drawings do not by themselves confirm final builder contracts.
Who is developing the senior-living portion?
The senior-living parcel has been marketed through Marcus & Millichap. The broker has indicated that a buyer has been identified but has not publicly disclosed the buyer’s identity.
Will Heritage Farms have restaurants and stores?
Approximately 13 acres are proposed for commercial development. Planning records have discussed interest from sit-down restaurants and grocery operators, but no specific restaurant, grocery store or retail tenant should be considered confirmed yet.
Is Heritage Farms approved?
Not completely. The New Lenox Plan Commission recommended the proposal move forward with requested revisions. Additional development negotiations and Village Board approvals are still required.
Why did the Plan Commission object to the proposed lots?
The proposal included some single-family lots approximately 45 feet wide. Commissioners requested a minimum width of approximately 60 feet and also asked for wider driveways and garages.
Will Heritage Farms have a park?
Yes. The current plan includes an approximately 9-acre public park along with multi-use trails.
What road improvements are planned?
The plan includes a dedicated left-turn entrance from Route 6 and approximately 800 feet of Cedar Road widening north from Summerfield Drive. The proposed Route 6 access would not allow a left turn out of the development at that location.
What happens next?
The developer is expected to revise the Heritage Farms plans to address issues raised by the Plan Commission. The development agreement, annexation, rezoning and planned-unit-development approvals would then move toward consideration by the New Lenox Village Board.
Following New Construction Around the Southwest Suburbs?
This is just one of the residential developments moving through the area. I'm tracking new subdivisions, communities currently selling homes, and projects still going through municipal approvals in Frankfort, Mokena, New Lenox, Tinley Park, Orland Park and surrounding towns.
Explore the New Construction TrackerSources and Documents
- Village of New Lenox: August 18, 2026 Plan Commission Agenda and Packet
- Village of New Lenox: Plan Commission Agenda Center
- Village of New Lenox: Planning Commission / Zoning Board of Appeals
Development Note: Heritage Farms remains a proposed development and plans can change during municipal review. Acreage, land uses, road improvements, building designs, commercial interest and other project details are based on Village of New Lenox planning records reviewed through October 8, 2026. Commercial interest should not be interpreted as confirmation that a particular restaurant, grocery store or other business has signed a lease or committed to the project.