New village complex gets green light
The Village Board approved the acquisition of a 96,731-square-foot office building and 8.31 acres at 1100 Lake-Cook Road for redevelopment into a combined Village Hall and Police Department at its meeting on Monday, Nov. 2.
Approval capped an 11-month due diligence period which started in December of 2025. The acquisition carries a $6,250,000 price tag. That figure, however, does not include retrofitting the building into a village hall and police shop. Those costs are estimated to be around $52 million.
With the exception of trustee David Weidenfeld, the rest of the Board voiced support for the project. Weidenfeld, once again expressed concern about the timing of the expenditure.
In a memo to the Board, Deputy Village Manager Chris Stilling noted that the acquisition of the building and property “will bring Village Hall and the Police Department together in a modern civic facility designed to serve the community for decades.” Stilling told the Board that “the building is clean and structurally sound and that the plan meets the village’s long-term needs.”
Stilling also noted that the $52 million “assumes a 2028 construction start, with a 15% contingency and 5% annual escalation.”
Trustee Joanne Johnson presented her “top seven reasons” she favors the project, calling it “fiscally responsible” and that it avoids costly repairs and renovations to both Village Hall and the police department.
Board member Frank Cesario echoed much of what Johnson said, noting that it will save “tens of millions of dollars.” Cesario the purchase makes sense because while looking for a site for a new village hall, “we have not seen another site or building that would work.”
Only two residents provided comments regarding the project. Craig Horwitz reiterated his displeasure with the project chiding and accusing the Board of a lack of transparency and not providing information to the residents.
Resident Neil Worlikar told the Board that he favors the project saying the village needs to “plan for the future” and that updated facilities are needed. He is a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The Board’s action follows an in-depth review and presentation of the due diligence process at a special meeting on Aug. 31 by consultants Marc Rogers of CCS International Inc. and Jason Estes of FGM Architects. That presentation can be found here.
In addition to village offices and the police department, tentative plans call for two 10,000-square-foot spaces; one for public meeting space which would include Council chambers and another that would be space for the Indian Trails Public Library. Details about how that space would be used were speculative as there is not a formal agreement between the village and the Library District.
Work is tentatively scheduled to work in 2028. Details about the acquisition and conversion plans can be found at this link.
This report includes information from reporting in the Daily Herald, found here.
New sign to an old station
Buffalo Grove drivers may soon see a new sign on an old gas station.
The Village Board approved via consent agenda new signage for the Speedway gas station at 201 Milwaukee Ave. More than a new sign, however, it will be a new brand. 7-Eleven is replacing the Speedway at that location.
Neither Speedway nor 7-Eleven have indicated if plans for expansion at that site, presented to the Village Board by Speedway five years ago, are still on the table.
Apartments a growing PUD trend
With concentrated efforts on economic development and redevelopment ongoing in the village, the retail and residential landscape is undergoing significant changes, especially along the Lake-Cook and Dundee road corridors.
The Clove at Rt. 83 and Lake-Cook Road, Chase Plaza at Arlington Heights and Lake-Cook roads and Bison Crossing At 915–945 Dundee Road are taking front and center in new multi-use planned unit developments in Buffalo Grove.
In addition to distinct anchors, The Clove with a planned Whole Foods, Bison Crossing with a Tesla dealership and a Club Studio and Sprout Farmers Market the focus of Chase Plaza, each of the developments share one commonality – high-end apartment buildings.
The 250 Apartment complex at The Clove is already occupied while work is in process at the apartments at Bison Crossing. The apartments planned for Chase Plaza are, according to reporting in the Daily Herald, “market-rate units” which will be on the east side of the property. The 256-unit building is, notes the Herald, a joint project between Shorewood Developers and UrbanStreet Group.
Shorewood developed the retail at the Shops of Buffalo Grove which is at Deerfield Parkway and Milwaukee Avenue, across from Woodman’s Food Market. Shorewood is also developing the retail space at Bison Crossings.
Many residents have questioned the need for more apartments in the village in social media posts. Consultants have cited the growing trend in planned unit developments that are anchored by multifamily housing and smaller retail outlets.
In a post on its website, Root Property Group cites several factors in mixed use developments including “the new normal for working from home,” and financial benefits for investors. Root also touts proximity to goods and services that allow residents to walk rather than drive or if they do drive, it’s a short trip.
Root’s insights are echoed by GNP Realty Partners which, like Root, focuses heavily on planned unit developments in Chicago. However, more and more suburbs are adapting the concept. Nearby Arlington Heights, Wheeling and Vernon Hills are examples of planned unit developments that are anchored by apartments with retail, restaurants and services nearby. Neither Root or GNP Realty Partners have projects in Buffalo Grove.
Other cities, such as Northbrook and Libertyville, are seeing a growth of apartments near existing downtown areas.
Thefts keep cops busy
Buffalo Grove Police listed 129 incidents for September on their transparency site. Once again, officers responded to more reports of theft than any other incident with six reported. There were five reports of criminal damage to property, four reports of disorderly conduct, all of which were done by persons using electronic devices, two burglaries, one robbery, one report of a battery and one report of fraud by forgery. As usual, local code incidents, which include well-being check, lost items and dog bites led with 97 calls. In September police responded to calls regarding an intoxicated customer and an employee dispute. HR must have had the day off.
There were seven driving violations, three reports of DUI and one report charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer.
Most recently the department reported:
** A theft of a Kia Sportage from the 1000 Block of Alden
** Two thefts of a cart filled with detergent and cleaning items from Woodman’s Food Market, one with an estimated value of $30, the other with an estimated value of $489. Thieves apparently made a clean getaway.
** Criminal damage to a building at 1100 Lake-Cook Road. Police report a person, or persons, smashed in the front entry doors to the vacant property. Just wait until it becomes the police department.
Need a reason to celebrate?
A quick look at the calendar shows that November is:
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