Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Daily Herald’ Category

Rezoning request for potential data center in Hoffman Estates withdrawn

Posted in AI, BACOG, Cook, County, Daily Herald, Data Center, EJ&E/Canadian National, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Unions on July 1, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald

The firm that owns the 186-acre Plum Farms property at Higgins Road and Route 59 in Hoffman Estates has withdrawn its request to rezone the site to manufacturing use that potentially would have enabled a data center there.

“We got word last night that it had been withdrawn,” Hoffman Estates Village Manager Eric Palm said Wednesday.

That immediately removed the decision from the agenda of Monday’s village board meeting, at which a large crowd of opponents from Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills and South Barrington was expected.

Report continues here.

Related: “Barrington CUSD 220 opposes rezoning of Plum Farms,” “Proposed data center in Hoffman Estates sparks resident outrage,” “HOFFMAN ESTATES NOTICE OF (PLUM FARMS) PUBLIC HEARING JULY 6,” “‘Wrong project, wrong place’: Critics push back on rezoning plan for potential Hoffman Estates data center,” “Change.org Petition: ‘Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates’,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project,” “Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials,” “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development”

Read Full Post »

Opponents cite documents as proof Hoffman Estates plans data center on Plum Farms site

Posted in AI, Daily Herald, Data Center, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Land Use, Plum Farm development, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, School Districts, Sears, South Barrington, Taxes, Transparency on June 30, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald

A request to the Illinois Attorney General for a review of alleged Open Meetings Act violations is among the artillery being used by opponents of a potential rezoning of 186 acres in Hoffman Estates for a possible data center.

Barrington Hills resident Amanda Pollard filed the request Monday, asking that any finding of a violation be used to challenge the village board’s possible rezoning of the northwest corner of Higgins Road and Route 72 to manufacturing use at Monday’s board meeting.

She cited documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act as proof plans for a data center are more specific than the landowner or village officials have said aloud.

Pollard was particularly suspicious of requests for meetings with trustees or the mayor in correspondence between landowner Karis Critical and village staff.

Village Manager Eric Palm said the documents don’t chronicle potential Open Meetings Act violations and Mayor Bill McLeod said none have occurred.

Hoffman Estates officials are considering a proposal to rezone the 186-acre Plum Farms property at the northwest corner of routes 59 and 72 to manufacturing use, potentially enabling development of a data center. This view looks north along Old Sutton Road, just north of Higgins Road. | Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com, 2019

“No, we don’t do that,” McLeod added. “That doesn’t happen.”

At the June 3 plan commission meeting, attorney Matt Norton representing Karis characterized the rezoning request as simply a way to boost the Plum Farms site’s marketing potential for various industrial uses.

But a May 19 email from Hoffman Estates Director of Development Services Jennifer Horn to Karis officials speaks of a less generalized goal.

Article continues here.

Related: “Proposed data center in Hoffman Estates sparks resident outrage,” “HOFFMAN ESTATES NOTICE OF (PLUM FARMS) PUBLIC HEARING JULY 6,” “‘Wrong project, wrong place’: Critics push back on rezoning plan for potential Hoffman Estates data center,” “Change.org Petition: ‘Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates’,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project,” “Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials,” “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development”

Read Full Post »

Plan to redevelop Allstate property in South Barrington is progressing

Posted in Daily Herald, Real Estate, South Barrington on June 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Russell Lissau | Daily Herald

Redevelopment plans for the former Allstate Corp. headquarters near South Barrington are gaining steam.

A real estate company called Opus wants to purchase the roughly 67-acre site at Higgins and Bartlett roads from Allstate and construct three light-industrial buildings.

To smooth the way for that plan, Allstate has asked the South Barrington village board to annex the land, which had been part of the village until it was disconnected by a court order last year. It’s now considered to be in unincorporated Cook County.

South Barrington’s plan commission, which advises the village board on development matters, recommended approval of the site plan last week.

The village board is expected to consider the proposal when it next meets at 7 p.m. July 9 at village hall, 30 Barrington Road.

Report continues here.

Related: “‘A unicorn event’: Allstate property could be annexed back into South Barrington ahead of redevelopment,” “Allstate Property Could Be Annexed Back into South Barrington as part of a Major Redevelopment Effort”

Read Full Post »

‘One-woman show’: Barrington resident brings home-grown business to historic Ice House mall

Posted in Daily Herald, Education, Topics Of Interest on June 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Owner Montana Bellagamba holds “City of Iron and Ivy” by local author Thomas Kent Weat, at Bell House Books, which is holding its grand opening Saturday within the Ice House Mall & Vintage Shops in Barrington. | Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

Barrington resident Montana Bellagamba is bringing her passion for books to the town where she grew up — and filling a need in her hometown.

Bell House Books, 200 Applebee St., is holding its grand opening Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the historic Ice House Mall & Village Shops.

Bellagamba began the business out of her home — its name refers to both her name and the business’ domestic origins — and began hosting pop-ups at women-owned shops in the area, as well as the village’s farmers market, now known as Thursday Night Out.

Now, she has her own nearly 1,100-square-foot space.

Bell House Books in Barrington aims at filling a diverse appetite for books. | Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com

Bellagamba’s background is in hospitality, food and beverage, which translates into a public-facing business. She and her husband Thomas Bellagamba, whom she met at Countryside Elementary School, moved back to Barrington from Chicago and have two young children. She has spent the past seven years working for consulting firms.

After they moved back, she found people she knew had also moved back. She also found a network of other female entrepreneurs who were willing to welcome her into their spaces, including the Pepper Pot, a needlepoint and mahjong store located within the mall.

“One thing that really took me by surprise is just the amount of female entrepreneurs in this town and how truly inspiring they are,” she said. “They are willing to connect and collaborate and help you grow.”

Article continues here.

Read Full Post »

Local residents protest potential rezoning of Plum Farms site in Hoffman Estates for data center

Posted in AI, BACOG, Cook, County, Daily Herald, Data Center, Deception, EJ&E/Canadian National, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Mad Cows, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, Sears, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Transparency, Unions on June 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Residents of Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills and South Barrington, including Christine Krzystofczyk of Hoffman Estates, protest the proposed rezoning of the 186-acre Plum Farms property at the corner of routes 59 and 72, immediately west of The Arboretum in South Barrington Wednesday. | John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald

Residents of communities near the 186-acre Plum Farms property in Hoffman Estates Wednesday protested its proposed rezoning for industrial uses they consider a smoke screen for a data center.

Demonstrators from Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills and South Barrington cited documents obtained through public records requests as evidence that inquiries about a plan for a data center at the northwest corner of routes 59 and 72 were shared with the village in early 2025

Hoffman Estates Deputy Village Manager Jon Pape confirmed landowner Karis Critical did submit such unsolicited concept plans last year. They were not reviewed by village staff as a formal development proposal would have been.

Doreen Gibrich, along with other residents of Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills and South Barrington, protests the proposed rezoning of the 186-acre Plum Farms property on the corner of routes 59 and 72 Wednesday. | John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

Mayor Bill McLeod emphasized the request before the village board at its meeting of Monday, July 6 is for a rezoning of the property without a detailed plan attached.

“A concept plan isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on,” McLeod said. “Formal plans are very involved. What’s on the table is rezoning.”

The village’s plan commission recommended against granting that request by a 4-2 vote on June 3. The village presidents of Barrington Hills and South Barrington have lent their voices to the opposition.

Article continues here.

Related: “HOFFMAN ESTATES NOTICE OF (PLUM FARMS) PUBLIC HEARING JULY 6,” “‘Wrong project, wrong place’: Critics push back on rezoning plan for potential Hoffman Estates data center,” “Change.org Petition: ‘Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates’,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project,” “Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials,” “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development”

Read Full Post »

Tribune Publishing completes purchase of Daily Herald, adding the suburban newspaper to its Chicago portfolio

Posted in Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, News Media on June 23, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Daily Herald is printed at the Tribune printing plant Feb. 10, 2026, in Schaumburg. | Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune

By Robert Channick | Chicago Tribune

Three years after buying the Daily Herald printing plant, Tribune Publishing has added the storied suburban newspaper itself to an expanding Chicago-area portfolio.

The purchase closed Monday, putting the 150-year-old Daily Herald, the state’s third-largest newspaper, under the Tribune Publishing corporate umbrella, joining nearly three dozen daily and weekly suburban newspapers and the flagship Chicago Tribune.

“I think it’s a great fit for the Chicago Tribune Media Group,” said Par Ridder, publisher of Chicago Tribune Media Group. “It’s really maybe the crown jewel of our suburban coverage.”

Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed, but Tribune Publishing has extended offers of employment to all Daily Herald employees, according to a published statement by Douglas Ray, chairman, publisher and CEO of Paddock Publications, parent company of the Daily Herald.

In May, Tribune Publishing struck a deal to buy the Daily Herald after waging a monthslong campaign — including taking out several full-page print ads in the Chicago Tribune — to convince the suburban newspaper’s employee owners to support the sale.

“We are pleased that ESOP participants voted by a substantial margin in favor of the sale to Tribune Publishing,” Ray said in an online statement Monday.

Report continues here.

Read Full Post »

HOFFMAN ESTATES NOTICE OF (PLUM FARMS) PUBLIC HEARING JULY 6

Posted in AI, Cook, County, Daily Herald, Data Center, EJ&E/Canadian National, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Unions, Village Government on June 18, 2026| Leave a Comment »

 

(Click on image to enlarge)

Notice is hereby given that the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, will hold a Public Hearing pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/11-15.1-3 of the Illinois Municipal Code to consider an Annexation Agreement Amendment by and between the Village of Hoffman Estates and H.E. Holdings, LLC (Owner) related to the property located on the north side of Higgins Road between Canadian National Railway on the west and Illinois Route 59 on the east, consisting of approximately 145 acres. P.I.Ns: Lot 1 (01-28-301-004, 01-33-100-003, 01-33-100-004)

The hearing will be held on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 6:55 p.m. in the Hoffman Estates Municipal Building, 1900 Hassell Road, Hoffman Estates, IL.

The proposed Annexation Agreement Amendment would be an agreement that would terminate the Annexation Agreement dated May 1, 2017, and recorded in Cook County, Illinois, as document number 1712813016.

William D. McLeod
Village President
Board of Trustees
Published in Daily Herald June 18, 2026

Related: “‘Wrong project, wrong place’: Critics push back on rezoning plan for potential Hoffman Estates data center,” “Change.org Petition: ‘Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates’,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project,” “Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials,” “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development”

Read Full Post »

‘Wrong project, wrong place’: Critics push back on rezoning plan for potential Hoffman Estates data center

Posted in AI, Cook, County, Daily Herald, Data Center, Elections, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Plum Farm development, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, South Barrington, Spring Creek Watershed, Springfield, Taxes on June 16, 2026| 1 Comment »

By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald

Hoffman Estates village board members Monday heard from critics of the proposed rezoning of the 186-acre Plum Farms property for a possible data center campus.

Although the issue wasn’t on the agenda, the board allowed half an hour for public comment.

Earlier this month, the village’s plan commission voted 4-2 against landowner Karis Critical of Florida’s request to rezone the site at Higgins Road and Route 59 to permit manufacturing. This classification could allow for a data center.

In January, Karis Critical’s proposal for a data center in Naperville was rejected by the city council there.

Monday’s opponents to the Hoffman Estates rezoning request included state representatives and candidates as well as the village presidents of neighboring South Barrington and Barrington Hills.

Critics from Hoffman Estates, South Barrington and Barrington Hills Monday voiced their opposition to rezoning of the 186-acre Plum Farms property at the northwest corner of routes 59 and 72 in Hoffman Estates that could allow a data campus there. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com, 2019

Republican state Rep. Martin McLaughlin of Barrington Hills spoke to infrastructure pressures like increased water and electricity demand, pointing out that even Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker had recently paused the state’s economic incentive for data centers.

“If you’ve opened up an electrical bill lately, you know increased electricity demand is one of the problems with AI centers,” McLaughlin said. “Unfortunately, this has not been planned for well by Springfield politicians. And now, with potential AI center draw, it’s a double-whammy for utility payers and I cannot support this.”

Article continues here.

Read Full Post »

Now that Spring Hill Mall is gone, West Dundee revving up effort to redevelop site

Posted in Daily Herald, Real Estate on June 16, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Susan Sarkauskas | Daily Herald

West Dundee is ramping up its efforts to redevelop the site of the former Spring Hill Mall, using a computer model of what it could look like with housing and stores.

But a consultant and village officials, including Village President Chris Nelson, stressed in a presentation Monday night that the interactive model is just a starting point for developers to envision what they would want to build on the site near routes 31 and 72.

On Monday, West Dundee trustees got a glimpse of what could go on the former Spring Hill Mall property. The concept design plans serve as a starting point for a redevelopment of the site. | Courtesy of Houseal Lavigne Associates

“It’s really just to service marketing material and to signal that the village is open to development of the site that sort of meets this character and intent,” said Devin Lavigne, co-founder of Houseal Lavigne Associates, a planning and design firm the village hired to come up with the model. “This is to court developers.”

The presentation contained two concepts: “Urban village” and “Mixed-use boulevard.” Drawings of both showed tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly streets and turning the current stormwater pond in to a park amenity.

The urban village concept suggests 778 housing units in buildings up to five stories tall, with 320,000 square feet of retail space.

The mixed-use boulevard suggests 1,326 housing units could be built, and 400,000 square feet of retail space.

Report continues here.

Read Full Post »

Barrington asks for ICC to extend deadline related to railroad crossing pedestrian safety gates

Posted in Daily Herald, METRA, Public Safety, School Districts, TRAC on June 15, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

More than two years since the death of Barrington High School student Marin Lacson, Barrington community members are still waiting for pedestrian safety gates at the Hough Street crossing where she was killed.

Barrington officials, however, insist the project is proceeding, even though the village has filed for a six-month extension of its interim order with the Illinois Commerce Commission, which is hearing the petition of the village and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

“I would say that we see continuous movement, at all of our status hearings,” Deputy Village Manager Marie Hansen said. “Whether or not that movement is as much as we would like.”

But she added the village does not control the review and approval process.

The request to extend the June 18 deadline to Dec. 18, officials said, is to make sure the village remains eligible to receive reimbursement from the state for engineering and design work at the Union Pacific crossings receiving the gates — Hough Street, Main Street, Cook Street and Hillside Avenue.

Village officials say they have spent their own funds to help move the project forward.

Report continues here.

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »