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Archive for the ‘Hoffman Estates’ Category

Gardeners will be able to choose from a large selection of native plants and shrubs at Citizens for Conservation’s annual Native Plant, Shrub and Tree Sale from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday May 4, and Sunday May 5. | Courtesy of Donna Bolzman

May 2

South Barrington Garden Club: 9 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month, South Barrington Tennis Club, 3 Tennis Club Lane, South Barrington. Meetings generally consist of speakers, hands-on projects and bus trips to points of interest in the area followed by a lunch at a local restaurant. For information, sbgclub.org.

Hoffman Estates Garden Club — Container Gardening: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Presented by Master gardeners Sandra Atkinson and Judy Rahn. Container gardening is the hottest trend for growing vegetables, herbs and flowers. Learn about container and plant selection, simple design considerations and the proper planting and maintenance to help ensure success. Presentation begins after a short business meeting. Nonmembers are welcome. Visit hoffmanestatesgardenclub.club.

May 4

Citizens for Conservation’s Native Plant, Shrub and Tree Sale: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5 at CFC’s Hill ’N Dale Preserve, Ridge and County Line roads, in Barrington Hills. The 28th annual sale offers more than 200 varieties of native plants, including perennials, ferns, sedges, grasses, shrubs and trees. Online pre-order pickup will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, May 3 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 4. CFC members will also be able to shop the sale on May 3, and members get a 10% discount all days. Call (847) 382-7283 or visit citizensforconservation.org.

Dahlia Plant Sale: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5, at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Hosted by Central States Dahlia Society. Experts on hand to answer all your questions. centralstatesdahliasociety.com.

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Installation of a perimeter fence around the former Sears corporate campus in Hoffman Estates in April will precede its phased demolition to make way for Texas-based Compass Datacenters’ use of the 273-acre site. | Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com, 2020

By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald

Installation of a perimeter fence and security cameras over the next couple weeks will mark the start of the transformation of Sears’ former 2.4 million square feet of office space into Compass Datacenters’ new 273-acre campus in western Hoffman Estates.

Demolition of the buildings won’t begin for several more months, said Katy Hancock, vice president of community relations for Compass.

She said the buildings will be torn down one by one, with the clearing out of each one’s interior immediately preceding its demolition.

The process is expected to take until mid-2025. In the meantime, Sears’ former Building E on the campus will continue to host training exercises for area police and fire departments for as long as practical, Hancock said.

American Demolition of Carol Stream was selected for the project largely for its proven ability to minimize waste and maximize reuse of materials, she added. Concrete, stone and asphalt will be crushed on site for use as fill-in at the development of Compass’ own data center campus.

Work will be confined to the hours between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday until the demolition is complete.

More here.

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Annexation Map

NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION OF THE ANNEXATION OF CERTAIN TERRITORY BY THE VILLAGE OF BARRINGTON HILLS COOK, KANE, LAKE AND MCHENRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS Pursuant to Section 7-1-13(b) of the Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/7-1-13(b), notice is hereby given that the Village Board of the Village of Barrington Hills, Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry Counties, Illinois, at a meeting to be held on the 26th day of February, 2024, commencing at the hour of 6:30 p.m., at the Village of Barrington Hills Village Hall, 112 Algonquin Road, Barrington Hills, Illinois, will consider the annexation of properties commonly known as 15 Old Sutton Road, 188 Old Sutton Road, 190 Old Sutton Road, 191 Penny Road, 193 Penny Road, 545 Penny Road and certain segments of the existing railway right- of-way as it travels through properties identified by the common addresses: 15 Old Sutton Road, 188 Old Sutton Road, 190 Old Sutton Road, 191 Penny Road, 193 Penny Road, 545 Penny Road, all located in unincorporated Cook County, Illinois and legally described as: PIN 01-21-301-009 The South half of the East half of the South half of the Southwest quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section 21, Township 42 North, Range 9, East of the Third Principal Meridian, in Cook County, Illinois. PIN 01-21-302-008 The west 718.12 feet of the North 10 acres of the South 20 acres of the Southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 21, Township 42 North, Range 9, east of the Third Principal Meridian, EXCEPT from said North 10 acres of the strip of land 100.00 feet wide conveyed to F.E. Worchester by deed recorded July 1, 1889 as document 1123172, in book 2038, page 103, in Cook County, Illinois. PIN 01-21-302-009 The west 813.50 feet of the South 10 acres of the South half of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 21, Township 42 North, Range 9, east of the Third Principal Meridian in Cook County, Illinois. PIN 01-21-302-010 The South 10 acres of the South half of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 21, Township 42 North, Range 9, east of the Third Principal Meridian, EXCEPTING THEREFROM the West 813.50 feet thereof, and ALSO EXCEPTING from said tract that part falling within the strip of land 100.00 feet in width conveyed to F.E. Worcester, as Trustee, by deed recorded July 1, 1889 as document 1123172, in book 2038, page 103 in Cook County, Illinois. PIN 01-28-102-015 That part of the Northeast quarter of the Northwest quarter of Section 28, Township 42 North, Range 9 East of the Third Principal Meridian, described as follows: Beginning at the Northwest corner of the Northeast quarter of said Northwest quarter; thence South 89 degrees 43 minutes 23 seconds East along the North line of the Northeast quarter of said Northwest quarter, 180.00 feet; thence South 00 degrees 00 minutes 51 seconds East, parallel with the West line of the Northeast quarter of said Northwest quarter, 190.00 feet; thence South 48 degrees 09 minutes 45 seconds East, 137.79 feet; thence South 89 degrees 46 minutes 43 seconds East, 84.26 feet; thence South 00 degrees 00 minutes 51 seconds East, parallel with the West line of the Northeast quarter of said Northwest quarter, 190.00 feet; thence North 89 degrees 43 minutes 23 seconds West, parallel with the North line of the Northeast quarter of said Northwest quarter, 361.94 feet; thence North 00 degrees 00 minutes 51 seconds West along the West line of said Northwest quarter, a distance of 476.60 feet to the place of beginning, in Cook County, Illinois. PIN 01-28-102-020 That part of the Southeast quarter of the Northwest quarter of Section 28, Township 42 North, Range 9, east of the Third Principal Meridian, described as follows: Commencing at the Southwest corner of said Southeast quarter of the Northwest quarter; thence North on the West line of said Southeast Quarter of the Northwest quarter, 413.13 feet for the place of beginning; thence continuing North along the last described line, 482.69 feet to a point, said point being 422.15 feet South of the Northwest corner of said Southeast quarter of the Northwest quarter, as measured along said West line; thence Easterly 248.65 feet to a point on the Westerly line of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company, said point being 594.78 feet Northeasterly of a point of intersection of said Westerly line; with the aforesaid west line of the Southeast quarter of the Northeast quarter as measured along said Westerly line; thence Southwesterly along said Westerly line, a distance of 531.24 feet; then Westerly 26.88 feet to the place of beginning in Cook County, Illinois. PIN 01-28-102-017 That part lying Southeasterly of the Northwesterly right-of-way of Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad of the East half of the Northwest quarter of Section 28, Township 42 North, Range 9 East of the Third Principal Meridian, described as follows: Beginning at the Northeast corner of the Northwest quarter of said Section 28; thence South along said East line of said Northwest quarter, a distance of 891.00 feet to a point; thence West, parallel with the North line of the Northwest quarter of said Section, a distance of 538.57 feet to the right-of-way of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad, thence Northeasterly along the Southeasterly right-of-way of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad to the North line of the Northwest quarter of said Section 28; thence Easterly along the North line of said Northwest quarter to the point of beginning, (EXCEPTING THEREFROM that part of said tract taken and used for Penny Road AND EXCEPT that part taken and used for State Route 59), in the Northwest quarter of said Section 28, in Cook County, Illinois.

Also Existing Railroad Right-of-Way: a portion of PIN 01-21-500-003 and a portion of PIN 01-28-500-002, abutting PINS 01-21-302-010, 01-28-102-020 and 01-28-102-017. In addition, the annexation will include any roads and road right-of-way and will extend to the far side of an adjacent highway, except where the right-of-way is adjacent to Forest Preserve Property, where it will abut said land, and where it abuts New Sutton Road, which Road has already been annexed to South Barrington.

The meeting contemplates the passage and approval of an ordinance annexing the subject property into the Village limits and zoning the legally described property (other than the Railroad Right-of-Way) to the R1 Single Family Residential zoning classification of the Village upon annexation.

The proposed Ordinance and property to be annexed may be amended at the meeting. Consideration of the annexation of the properties may be continued to another date if discussion of the matter is not concluded on the scheduled date. All persons desiring to comment on the proposed annexation may do so at the meeting during the regular public comment period either, orally or in writing, or both.

Should you wish to provide comment on the proposed annexation in writing, comments should be submitted to the Village Clerk, 112 Algonquin Road, Barrington Hills, Illinois 60010, or via email at clerk@vbhil.gov no later than close of business Friday, February 23, 2024. Published in Daily Herald February 10, 2024 (4611767), posted 02/10/2024

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Bell Works

Using a model as a reference, developer Ralph Zucker shows where housing will be built at Bell Works Chicagoland in Hoffman Estates. | Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com

By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald

While the commercial development of Bell Works Chicagoland in Hoffman Estates is continuing on pace in 2024, the year’s biggest milestone is expected to be the start of construction on 164 townhouses on the east side of the former AT&T headquarters.

Final approval also will be sought for nearly 300 apartments in the same 20-acre area of the sprawling property, Inspired by Somerset Development CEO Ralph Zucker said.

Though pleased by the office, dining, fitness, and even research and development tenants that have spurred the project on in the wake of the pandemic, Zucker said the imminent residential components will generate round-the-clock life at Bell Works and truly earn it his favorite description — “metroburb.”

“Having over 500 families here is going to be a game-changer,” he said.

Editorial note: That’s “over 500 families” within the District 220 Boundary Map, so yes, that would change things considerably.

Read more here.

Related: 164 high-end townhouses coming to Bell Works in Hoffman Estates,” “Remaking white elephant suburban headquarters: Is a ‘metroburb’ headed to Hoffman Estates?” “Developer filing plan for townhouses, apartments at Bell Works in Hoffman Estates

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Sears Data Cente

New data centers from Dallas-based Compass Datacenters are planned for the 273-acre former Sears campus in western Hoffman Estates. | Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com

By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald

When the restructured Transformco put its former Sears corporate campus in Hoffman Estates on the market two years ago, much head-scratching and debate followed over how its 273 acres and 2.4 million square feet of office space could be re-purposed in a post-pandemic economy.

But when Dallas-based Compass Datacenters closed on its purchase of the site in September, many local leaders and commercial real estate experts regarded its proposed data center campus as a perfect fit.

In a relatively short period of time, the data center industry has strongly established itself in the Northwest suburbs, through existing and ongoing developments in Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect and elsewhere in Hoffman Estates.

A blend of several factors enabled this, with one in particular lighting the fuse, according to Josh Levi, president of the Virginia-based Data Center Coalition.

“It was the tax incentive in Illinois that unlocked a lot of the growth you’re seeing now,” he said.

Taking effect in 2020, the state’s program offers data center owners and operators a tax credit of 20% on the wages for construction workers on projects in under-served areas. Among the criteria are an investment of at least $250 million over five years and the creation of at least 20 permanent jobs for the operation and maintenance of the facilities.

But that isn’t the only factor allowing Illinois to join the outward growth of an industry initially concentrated on the East and West coasts, Levi said.

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Sears 23

Dallas-based Compass Datacenters closed on its purchase of the 273-acre former Sears headquarters in Hoffman Estates on Tuesday. The village has not yet seen a detailed plan for the property. (Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer, 2019)

The former Sears campus in Hoffman Estates may now have a promising future to go with its storied past, as Dallas-based Compass Datacenters closed on its purchase of the 273-acre site Tuesday.

The move turns a page for Hoffman Estates and closes the book on Sears’ presence in the Chicago area, from where it helped shape the national retail industry for decades.

“We are very pleased to welcome Compass Datacenters to Hoffman Estates,” Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod said in a statement. “The redevelopment of the former Sears headquarters into a data center campus begins a new chapter for this high-profile property and continues the technology diversification of our tax base. Although still preliminary, the investment by Compass will be in the billions of dollars and will have positive effects for our community for years to come.”

Representatives of Compass have not responded to requests for comment in recent weeks.

The company is in the process of being acquired by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, according to a news release in June.

But CEO Chris Crosby’s statement at the time alludes to the ambitions demonstrated by Tuesday’s land purchase.

“The industry is at a critical inflection point today with AI and cloud demand continuing to fuel significant growth,” he wrote. “With Brookfield Infrastructure and Ontario Teachers’ strategic expertise and deep financial resources, Compass is ideally positioned to meet growing demand for hyperscale data centers and campuses.”

Hoffman Estates officials haven’t yet received a detailed proposal for the property, but the 2.4 million square feet of office space there seems destined for the wrecking ball.

Read more here.

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Sears

Texas-based Compass Datacenters is expected to close on its purchase of the 273-acre former Sears headquarters in Hoffman Estates this month, according to sources familiar with marketing of the property.

Sources familiar with efforts to market the former Sears headquarters in Hoffman Estates say Dallas-based Compass Datacenters is expected to close on its purchase of the 273-acre property this month.

Such a move would solve the 20-month mystery over the fate of the sprawling office campus, as well as erase the last visible presence of a 20th-century retail giant from the state it long called home.

Hoffman Estates village officials said they could not comment on the status of any pending real estate transaction, but they indicated they are prepared for a redevelopment of the Sears site.

“Whatever it is that ends up happening, we’re ready for it,” Director of Development Services Peter Gugliotta said. “We can get through the review process fairly quickly.”

A data center campus would present a much simpler approval process for the village and other entities than Sears’ plan for the previously undeveloped land in the early 1990s.

Much of the effort back then concerned bringing infrastructure to the site — including sewer, water, roads and tollway interchanges — and the taxation mechanisms to enable it, Gugliotta said.

Read more here.

Related: Texas data-center developer under contract to buy Sears headquarters, sources say,” “Unnamed group under contract for potential purchase of Sears campus in Hoffman Estates

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Sears Holdings

A Dallas-based developer of data centers is under contract for the potential purchase of the 273-acre former Sears campus in Hoffman Estates, sources familiar with the pending transaction said.

Dallas-based Compass Datacenters is the company under contract to buy the 273-acre former Sears headquarters campus in Hoffman Estates, according to sources familiar with the pending transaction.

A developer of data center campuses, Compass Datacenters is in the process of being acquired by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, a company news release reported last month.

Compass founder and CEO Chris Crosby, along with his current management team, are expected to continue leading the company after the acquisition, which is anticipated to close by the end of the year.

Company officials could not be reached for comment on the former Sears property, but Crosby released a statement in June about the company’s sale.

“The industry is at a critical inflection point today with AI and cloud demand continuing to fuel significant growth,” Crosby said. “With Brookfield Infrastructure and Ontario Teachers’ strategic expertise and deep financial resources, Compass is ideally positioned to meet growing demand for hyperscale data centers and campuses.”

According to the company’s website, Compass has developed more than a dozen data centers around the world, including in Minneapolis, Nashville and Montreal, as well as Milan, Italy, and Israel.

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Sears Peterson

Transformco, owner of the former Sears headquarters in Hoffman Estates, is working with an unidentified group on the potential sale of the 273-acre corporate campus, according to village officials. (Eric Peterson | Staff Photographer, 2016)

An unidentified group is performing due diligence ahead of its possible purchase of the former Sears headquarters campus in Hoffman Estates, according to village officials.

Owner Transformco, which put the 2.4-million-square-foot office complex and 273-acre site up for sale 18 months ago, has selected the unnamed group to work with, Hoffman Estates Economic Development Director Kevin Kramer said.

Although the potential buyer and its plans for the site have not been publicly disclosed, real estate market analysts told the Daily Herald they did not believe the 30-year-old Sears campus would generate interest as an office center.

But the industrial market in the area has been hot, and Hoffman Estates has seen particular interest from data center operators.

Microsoft last winter bought an additional 30 acres adjacent to the 53-acre site where it plans a pair of 207,000-square-foot data centers on Lakewood Boulevard in Hoffman Estates, north of Bell Works Chicagoland.

Construction on one of the centers is underway and a new ComEd substation is planned to serve the campus.

Village officials earlier this week discussed raising the electricity tax rate for high-volume users like data centers as a way to fund the $16 million cost of replacing the aging Fire Station 22 at 1700 Moon Lake Blvd.

More here.

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Hoff Fest

Patrons will again be able to enjoy the Ferris wheel and other carnival rides when Northwest Fourth Fest returns June 29 through July 2 outside the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates. (Daily Herald File Photo, 2019)

Northwest Fourth Fest will be back this month to bring attendees four days of fun, food, fireworks and musical entertainment outside the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates.

Local favorites American English, Hi Infidelity and 7th heaven will be among the bands performing during the fest, which runs from Thursday, June 29, through Sunday, July 2.

This will be the second year of the festival’s return following back-to-back cancellations in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.

This year’s parade, “Hoffman Estates — Celebrating the American dream,” will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 1, and proceed northeast along Illinois Boulevard in the village from Paris Lane to Evanston Street.

The fest’s fireworks show will be held at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 2, while 7th heaven takes a half-hour break from its 8:30 p.m. performance.

The carnival on the festival grounds will be in operation from 5 to 11 p.m. June 29 and 30, and from noon to 11 p.m. on July 1 and 2.

Admission to the grounds, live entertainment and Kids Zone attractions is free. There are additional costs for food, beverages and carnival rides.

Read more here.

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