After a yr 2022 full of planning, officers on the villages of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Barrington and Lake Zurich continued laying a basis for the longer term.
The yr additionally marked a return to extra pre-pandemic-like operations, with in-person board conferences and signature annual occasions.
In each Arlington Heights and Buffalo Grove, large-scale redevelopments are proposed for Arlington Park and deliberate for the previous Buffalo Grove Town Center, respectively.
In Lake Zurich, massive residential and business developments are underway and in Barrington, the village is transitioning to dwelling rule standing after a profitable referendum within the November election.
All 4 cities have additionally made important infrastructure enhancements all through 2022, officers level out.
Arlington Heights
After the Chicago Bears soccer group entered right into a $197.2 million buy settlement with the homeowners of Arlington International Racecourse on the finish of 2021, group homeowners, village employees and trustees, and the general public weighed in on subsequent steps for the property. Bears homeowners proposed a $5 billion domed stadium with an accompanying mixed-use growth on the 326-acre website positioned off of Route 53 and Northwest Highway. The Bears mentioned they’d pay for the stadium however plan to hunt public monetary help with different components of the mission — a degree of rivalry for some residents and such teams as Americans for Prosperity.
In November, village trustees accredited a pre-development settlement for the property but it surely didn’t make commitments to the Bears, who’ve but to finalize the acquisition of the property.
Another main transfer to Arlington Heights occurred this yr when United Airlines introduced plans to maneuver 900 community operations staff from its headquarters at Willis Tower in downtown Chicago to a newly bought facility within the northwest suburb. United had been leasing the 200,000-square-foot industrial constructing at 1501 W. Shure Drive, close to Route 53 and Dundee Road, since 2019. The 22-acre website was a part of the previous suburban Motorola campus.
Village Manager Randy Recklaus mentioned the hiring of recent Fire Department Chief Lance Harris was additionally important this previous yr.
“He’s done a great job of acclimating to the village and serves as a key member of our leadership team,” Recklaus mentioned.
“Arlington Alfresco,” the pandemic-born out of doors eating venue in downtown Arlington Heights, skilled one other profitable yr. The season closed with the first-ever Harmony Fest that includes the Taste of Arlington, which changed the previous Mane Event that came about together with the Arlington Million on the former racetrack.
“The village also passed a 0% property tax increase for a fourth year in a row,” Recklaus mentioned, “demonstrating the strong fiscal position and strength of the local economy.”
Barrington
“The past year has been an exciting and transformative one for the village of Barrington,” mentioned Village President Karen Darch. “From achieving home rule status to making major investments in infrastructure and hosting successful events and initiatives, Barrington continues to demonstrate its commitment to creating a vibrant community for all.”
On Nov. 8, Barrington voters forged ballots in favor of dwelling rule standing. Then in December, village trustees accredited the city’s first 1% dwelling rule gross sales tax, which is efficient July 1, with plans to make use of the funds for infrastructure enhancements throughout the village.
During 2022, the village’s first responder departments transitioned to utilizing Northwest Central Dispatch, a regional emergency response system coordinating police, fireplace and emergency providers. In addition, the Lake County Department of Transportation accomplished the Hart Road Bridge mission, together with a brand new multi-use path close to Barrington High School for college students and residents.
Also, the Friends of Barrington’s White House collected $2 million in fundraising to fund capital wants for Barrington’s White House over the subsequent 50 years.
It was additionally a major yr of growth for Barrington School District 220.
Prior to the beginning of the 2022-2023 faculty yr, SD220 celebrated the top of “Build 220″ development at Grove Avenue Elementary, Barrington Middle School- Prairie Campus, Roslyn Road Elementary, Barrington Middle School- Station Campus and Sunny Hill Elementary.
Maintenance, repairs, safety and security upgrades came about at every faculty, together with new classroom additions to interchange the previous cellular lecture rooms at Prairie, Station and Grove, plus devoted STEM and sensory rooms have been added at every elementary faculty, together with a brand new playground at Sunny Hill, in keeping with the district. Additional work is deliberate at Barrington High School. Build 220 is funded by a $147 million bond referendum accredited by Barrington space voters in March 2020.
Buffalo Grove
“The village continued its progress toward major public-private reinvestment in 2022, with signature development and infrastructure projects such as the Clove and the Weiland and Lake Cook Road improvements,” mentioned Village Manager Dane Bragg. “Buffalo Grove looks forward to another great year of improvements in 2023 as we continue our Infrastructure Modernization Program, transition to the new public works facility and welcome new development to our community.”
Considered the most important redevelopment mission within the historical past of Buffalo Grove, The Clove broke floor Sept. 22 on the previous website of the Buffalo Grove Town Center. The $150 million mission has been 4 years within the making and can embody a residential, business and leisure space set on 22 acres at Lake Cook and McHenry roads.
Built by Kensington Development, the Clove is anticipated to characteristic 78,000 sq. toes of recent retail business area, a high-end grocer, park area, a 295-unit luxurious house constructing and transformed 35,000-square-foot procuring heart north of Old Checker Road, in keeping with village plans.
Another constructing transformation came about at The Arboretum Club, 401 Half Day Road. WJ Golf LLC designed a brand new indoor simulator golf facility within the former banquet area and opened a bar and Asian fusion restaurant. Eight indoor golf simulator bays characteristic 160 golf programs from all over the world plus six gaming machines have been added to the membership.
In May, the Village Board accredited the $13 million buy and transform of a former warehouse area at 1650 Leider Lane for a brand new Public Works Department facility, which officers say will higher serve the wants of the rising neighborhood.
The village additionally launched new management modifications with the appointments of a brand new police chief, new deputy police chief and deputy fireplace chief, and a brand new division of communications and neighborhood engagement. Longtime police Chief Steven Casstevens retired this yr.
Sadly, because the yr got here to a detailed, a household of 5 was discovered useless of their Buffalo Grove dwelling. Andrei Kisliak, 39, is alleged to have killed his spouse, Vera Kisliak, 36, two daughters, Vivian, 6, and Amilia, 4, and his mom Lilia Kisliak, 67, earlier than killing himself, in keeping with Buffalo Grove police Chief Brian Budds.
Autopsies by the Lake County coroner indicated the reason for loss of life for all of the members of the family to be from “sharp force injuries.”
The Kisliak household confronted a house foreclosures, and the couple was within the throes of a contentious, ongoing divorce, in keeping with court docket information.
Lake Zurich
The village of Lake Zurich continues to draw new developments alongside the Rand Road hall.
In September, the 25,283-square-foot Life Time health facility and luxurious spa at 400 N. Rand Road opened to the general public.
Across the road, development is underway for the Sanctuary of Lake Zurich. The LZ Development Group LLC is setting up a mixed-use growth with 23 residential townhomes in three buildings with massive home windows overlooking the Lake Zurich waterfront, at 300 N. Rand Road. The growth is anticipated to additionally embody a 4,200-square-foot business constructing.
Also on Rand Road, the previous Giordano’s pizza restaurant, at 455 S. Rand Road, can be leveled to make method for a brand new Chase Bank constructing, consolidating operations from the Chase Cuba Road location and the financial institution throughout the road from the brand new website.
Just down the road, village leaders minimize ribbons in October on a Casey’s General Store at 650 S. Rand Road, which not solely sells fuel however made-from-scratch pizza and extra.
Village Manager Ray Keller mentioned the village additionally noticed redevelopment on Main Street this previous yr, due to village investments.
Keller mentioned the village ended the yr in a optimistic monetary place, with a price range surplus and $1.8 million put aside for bigger infrastructure initiatives in 2023. This previous yr, he mentioned, the village invested $1.9 million in street resurfacing in June Terrance and the Braemar neighborhood plus $3.4 million in water major replacements and lining sanitary sewers to effectively lengthen their lifespans.
The village additionally accomplished enhancements at Paulus Park together with a brand new stage, shoreline stabilization and a kayak/canoe launch, together with accelerated alternative of timber eliminated in 2016 because of the EAB infestation.
The weekly Block A Food Truck Social on the Lake Zurich Promenade continued to attract crowds this yr as did the annual Lake Zurich Lion’s Club Alpine Fest, Rock the Block and Miracle on Main—amongst 40 particular occasions hosted by the village this previous yr.
Keller mentioned the village is making continued progress towards securing a Lake Michigan water provide for residents. A preliminary engineering examine has been carried out and the village is planning to enter into an intergovernmental settlement with Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency. This will permit the village to start the detailed engineering plans earlier than committing to a Lake Michigan water supply.
“Each year has presented a new challenge, through tight revenues, COVID, labor and supply chain disruptions, to the inflationary pressures that will shape 2023,” Keller mentioned. “Lake Zurich is resourceful and resilient – we’ll adapt to whatever the new year brings, while remaining focused on what we can do next to make Lake Zurich even better.”
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com