New boutique hotel coming to Lincolnshire

Developers plan to open a 138-room hotel in Lincolnshire's already bustling City Park complex.

A seven-story Aloft Hotel is set to open in March 2010 at City Park, according to the hotel's Web site. Construction could begin in September, said developer Scott Greenberg of ECD Co.

Aloft is part of the Starwood chain, which also includes the Sheraton, Westin and St. Regis brands. The hotel has been billed as a hip, high-tech place aimed at youthful travelers.

"It's got more boutique characteristics," Greenberg said. "In the North suburbs and Lake County, there is nothing like it."

The planned Lincolnshire hotel is one of five Aloft operations set to open in the next few years in the Chicago area. One will open this summer in Rosemont.

It will be Lincolnshire's seventh hotel and the second at City Park, which is on the southwest corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Aptakisic Road. Even so, officials say another is welcome -- as is the cash it will bring.

"We do have a 5-percent hotel room tax, and this will be a nice boost for our revenues," Village Manager Bob Irvin said.

That tax could generate $150,000 to $200,000 annually for the village, Irvin said. The operation also will result in money spent at local restaurants and businesses, he said.

"It's not a full-service hotel, so people staying there are going to be looking for meals (elsewhere)," Irvin said. "And Lincolnshire already has plenty of restaurants to choose from, including right there at City Park."

Wildfire, Red Robin and Jamba Juice are among the restaurants in the complex, which also features retail outlets, a movie theater, corporate center and other businesses.

The Lincolnshire village board approved a site plan, landscaping plan and other plans for the proposed hotel Tuesday night.

Mayor Brett Blomberg said he is excited about the project. He doesn't believe the hotel will hurt business at the other City Park hotel, a Hampton Inn, or the others in town.

"We do have quite a few hotels, but each has its own character," Blomberg said. "I think it will be fine."

Lincolnshire's 1,056 hotel rooms rank it fourth in Lake County, according to the county's convention and visitors bureau. Gurnee is first with 1,464 rooms, the agency said. The Waukegan and Deerfield areas rank second and third, respectively.

Need a room?

When it comes to hotel rooms, Lincolnshire ranks fourth in Lake County -- but 138 more are on the way.

Town Rooms

1. Gurnee* 1,464

2. Waukegan* 1,336

3. Deerfield 1,163

4. Lincolnshire 1,056

5. Vernon Hills 499

*May include hotels in nearby unincorporated areas

Source: Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau