The village is going to buy what?

The rumor floating around Arlington Heights is that the village is going to buy the Lattof car dealership property, clear the site and build a new police station.

Not true, said Charles Witherington-Perkins, director of planning and community development in Arlington Heights.

"I have no idea how that rumor started," he said. "There has been absolutely no discussions about the village acquiring that property. I can't imagine there ever would be."

Witherington-Perkins fielded many e-mails and phone calls from residents wanting to know the truth behind the rumor last week. I've gotten a few e-mails and phone calls myself.

For the past year, village officials have been in talks with "a potential user" for the site. Witherington-Perkins would only say it was a commercial development because no formal plan has been submitted yet.

Those plans may become public within the next two or three months, he said.

"Although with this economy, nothing is a guarantee," he said.

The Lattofs decided to accept a buyout from General Motors, which will close the dealership. The Lattofs dealership - which closed in October - was open for about 70 years at Northwest Highway, just southeast of downtown.

- Sheila Ahern

sahern@dailyherald.com