Resident Raises Safety Concerns Over Stalled Foundation on Orchard Lane

Village of Beecher Board Meeting | Dec. 8, 2025

Article Summary: A Beecher resident voiced strong concerns to the Village Board regarding a stalled construction project at Orchard Lane and Catalina Drive, citing an open foundation as a safety hazard for neighborhood children. Village officials confirmed that a new general contractor has recently taken over the project.

Construction Complaint Key Points:

• The Issue: A resident reported an open foundation hole that has sat inactive for over two months.

• Safety Hazard: The speaker expressed concern that the “makeshift fence” is insufficient to stop neighborhood children from accessing the site.

• Village Response: Administrator Charity Mitchell confirmed that a new, licensed, and bonded general contractor has recently taken over the project.

• Project History: The resident noted that he had warned the Board four months prior about the previous contractor’s capabilities.

Tensions regarding a stalled residential construction project surfaced during the public comment portion of the Beecher Village Board meeting on Monday, December 8, 2025. A resident, identifying himself as a contractor, addressed the Board about an open foundation located near Orchard Lane and Catalina Drive.

The resident stated he had appeared before the Board four months prior to express skepticism about the project’s original contractor. “I stated my concern about this guy really not knowing what he was doing. And obviously, I was right,” the resident said. He described the site as having a foundation that has been open for over two months with little to no activity.

His primary concern was the safety of children in the neighborhood. “I know there’s a makeshift fence around it. When did that ever stop a 10-year-old?” he asked the Board. He warned that if an injury occurred, both the property owner and the village could face liability.

Village Administrator Charity Mitchell responded to the concerns, stating that the property owner has recently engaged a different general contractor. “He has started again with a new general contractor and that has been very recent,” Mitchell said. She noted that the new contractor is licensed and bonded.

The resident claimed he had seen the previous builder drilling holes into the new foundation walls to install missing anchors, questioning the quality of the work. Village officials assured the resident that engineers are reviewing the site and that they are monitoring the situation to ensure proper codes are followed moving forward.