New nursery owner Tim James allowed the Lake Zurich and Wauconda departments to use the former nursery buildings on 5.7 acres at US 12 and Cuba Road for a training exercise. "I knew the fire department is always looking for training sites, yet opportunities seldom arise," James says in a statement. "I thought this would be the perfect time to offer them an experience they rarely have and help keep our local firefighters well-prepared."

Bannockburn-based Principle Construction Corp. is scheduled to have the 21,000-sf store and 28,560-sf greenhouse, being built at a reported cost of $4 million, ready by March. James says the buildings are necessary to keep up with his expanding business.