River Forest, IL – On July 9, 2026, Village officials and River Forest residents attended the latest hearing in the ongoing legal case that continues to delay progress at the Lake & Lathrop redevelopment site. At the hearing, Judge Anthony Kryiakopoulos determined that Alpha Construction, an entity owned by previous developer, Marty Paris of Lake Lathrop Partners, failed to comply with the court’s June 2026 order to obtain appropriate legal representation. Repeated issues related to Alpha Construction’s representation have prevented forward momentum in the case, and as a result, Judge Kryiakopoulos issued an Order of Default.
This ruling marks another meaningful step forward in this prolonged court case, and reflects the Judge’s commitment to moving it toward resolution - despite repeated extensions, incomplete filings, and procedural maneuvering by involved parties.
“I am grateful to Judge Kryiakopoulos for his efforts to hold the parties in this case accountable - to ultimately free this important commercial property from litigation so that it can be developed to ultimately serve River Forest,” said Village President Cathy Adduci. “I would like to thank all the residents who have taken the time to attend these hearings with me, to show the court this matter is important to our entire community.”
While the Village is not a party in this case and has no legal authority due to the Lake & Lathrop property being privately-owned, Village President Adduci and Village staff are focused on pursuing any and all avenues to support a positive resolution. This includes a consistent presence at future hearings, and community members are again invited to attend as a showing of solidarity.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 15. At that time, the court is expected to establish a schedule for discovery, which would be another significant step toward resolving the legal issues that continue to stall progress on this commercial site.
Resident Lewis Rieck stated, “I’m glad I attended to see the proceedings firsthand, and I appreciate the Village’s efforts in getting the case resolved. I look forward to attending again on the September 15 hearing date and the speedy resumption of actions on this matter to bring it to a successful conclusion. The last four years have been trying for the nearby residents, given the safety and non completion issues that present themselves to the surrounding neighborhood and entire village. I am hopeful of an even larger attendance at the next hearing so all parties to the litigation know our interest in a timely resolution.”
In addition to Alpha Construction being a party in this matter, it also includes the long-running foreclosure dispute between Lake Lathrop Partners - the property owner - and Beverly Bank, a Wintrust Bank - the lender.
The Village will continue to monitor all progress with the goal of clearing the way for future development and is encouraged by Judge Kyriakopoulos latest ruling as well as his previous comments at the June 2026 hearing.
Additional updates will be shared with community members on the Village’s communication channels (website, social media and E-News) as the September hearing approaches, and as further developments take place in this legal case.
Contact: Matt Walsh, Village Administrator
Press Release (PDF)
###