Arlington Hts. Star Line development plan taking shape
High-density development with hotels, residential units and office buildings as tall as 25 stories, cultural areas and parks - this is the development Arlington Heights envisions will eventually be built around the future Star Line where it comes through the south end of the village.
The 85 acres in question are east of Arlington Heights Road, south of Algonquin Road, north of I-90 and roughly west of Clearbrook Drive and the Lost Creek townhouses.
Like other Northwest suburbs along the proposed Star Line commuter rail line, Arlington Heights is actively planning to surround its train station with development.
The commuter line would extend northwest from O'Hare Airport in the median of I-90 to the Prairie Stone Business Park in Hoffman Estates, where it would connect with the CN line (formerly the EJ&E which also has been proposed for commuter use.
The target date for train service is 2017, with a cost of more than $1 billion.
Despite the far-off date, it is important for Arlington Heights to plan development now because the Illinois Tollway Authority is working on plans to expand the tollway, said Charles Witherington-Perkins, director of planning and community development for Arlington Heights.
In Arlington Heights' latest proposal, offices and hotels are built on the west side, maybe alongside some cultural or retail venues.
The Core Area in the middle - which would house the station itself right by the tollway - would resemble a downtown with office, residential and commercial buildings. Assisted living and recreation and education centers might be included as well.
In the eastern segment, the primary focus would be mid-rise residential buildings and row houses with a mix of other uses.
The Arlington Heights Plan Commission recently recommended the plan, and the village board is expected to vote on it in July.
To see the proposal, visit the Planning and Community Development portion of the village Web site, vah.com.
The village also is applying to the Regional Transit Authority for a grant to study what traffic would be like if the development plan takes root.