DECATUR - Lakefront property along Lake Decatur has long been hard to come by. With few areas left to build along the lake, developers are looking to make the most of what is left.

Decatur's newest development is being called Mueller Heights. It is on land that became available after Millikin University decided it had no use for the property around the old Mueller Lodge, which it had been using for a retreat center since 1986.

John Mueller, the great-grandson of Mueller Co. founder Hieronymus Mueller, bought it in 2005 and now is looking at developing the property for high-end housing.

He said having property to develop along the water is valuable, especially in Central Illinois.

"Anything on water is important," Mueller said. "Water is an amenity. Having access to it and seeing it every morning, it's special."

After spending more than a year fixing up the property, Mueller is excited to start selling the lots and having people start building homes.

The lodge building was in such rough shape, it had to be torn down, said Greg Wardeberg, Mueller's business partner at Florida-based Sweet Water Springs LLC.

"We were hoping to utilize the lodge, but it was not as well maintained," Wardeberg said. "We would have liked to maintain that on the property."

The developers spent more than $100,000 improving sightlines along the lake and the pond in the middle of the development, Wardeberg said. They have said they planned to spend more than $2 million getting the property ready.

Homes along the lake always have been of interest to people in Decatur, said Terri Booker, an agent for Brinkoetter & Associates Realtors.

"It's such a commodity," Booker said. "Very few lakes are available to build on. If you want a house on a lake, it's one of a few properties around."

Booker said many people want walk-out basements but with flat farmlands making up most of the area, walk-outs aren't possible. Six of Mueller Heights' 16 lots will allow people to build walk-out basements that open out toward the lake.

The property doesn't come cheaply, however. The six lakefront lots start at $295,000 and the most expensive one is $375,000. Other lots in the development range from $95,000 to $285,000.

Other developers have found opportunities to develop neighborhoods along the lake, even with limited land available.

"Naturally, the lake setting, whether they're boaters or not, a lot of people just like the setting on the lake for the view," said Steve Lewis of S.A. Lewis Construction, which built Southbrooke Estates. "Because it's hard to come by is why it's at a premium right now."

City officials are excited to have the lakefront development. In addition to affordable housing opportunities, the city wants to have property available for company executives and others who would live in a place such as Mueller Heights, which is a gated neighborhood.

"It's great for the city anytime you have a lakefront development," said Greg Crowe, economic development coordinator for the city of Decatur. "It will bring in tax revenue for the city, which is definitely a goal for us to increase the tax base. It's wonderful to have those opportunities within city limits."

Wardeberg thinks all the wildlife and nature the development offers will be worth the price families would pay.

"There's a lot to do if you're a kid," Wardeberg said. "I would have loved it when I was a kid."