Will County Gazette

Keith Ogle, the Mayor of Frankfort, Illinois, is facing allegations from a coalition of residents, civic leaders, and business owners. They claim he has been obstructing plans for a new housing community aimed at residents aged 55 and over. This development, known as the Gardens of Frankfort, was proposed by Mike Rose of LFI Real Estate.

Mike Rose moved to Frankfort 30 years ago and has been advocating for the project alongside other local business leaders. The coalition accuses Mayor Ogle of using discriminatory tactics to block the development, which they argue would provide much-needed housing for older residents.

Despite a Will County Court ruling in 2003 that granted zoning approval for the Gardens of Frankfort, progress has stalled. In 2021, when meeting with Mayor Ogle, Rose received verbal support that has not materialized into action. As of 2025, the project has yet to be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval.

The Village of Frankfort has pointed out issues with its sewer and water systems but has approved other developments during this period. A sanitary sewer study commissioned in 2024 revealed capacity issues in southern Frankfort's sewer systems. Steve Gutschenritter, a senior engineer at BSI Engineering and long-time resident, criticized the village's priorities regarding infrastructure spending.

Many in Frankfort's business community share concerns about transparency under Mayor Ogle's leadership. They believe these issues threaten the values associated with living in Frankfort.

Mike Rose argues that providing quality housing options for seniors will benefit both older residents and younger families looking for homes. He states that "Gateway is a testament to what an asset the Gardens of Frankfort will be to the community."

The debate continues as stakeholders push for fair consideration of the Gardens of Frankfort proposal.

Information from this article can be found here.