The Biz Week That Was: A new vision for Hawthorn mall, maternity ward closing, and Bears stadium updates
Changes allowing for what is described as an important milestone in the ongoing transformation of the Hawthorn mall property in Vernon Hills have been officially approved. The village board Tuesday gave a unanimous thumbs-up to what is the third iteration of Phase II of Hawthorn 2.0 — a $252 million reimagining of the original 1970s-era mall and surrounding property. Changes include shifting the location and increasing the number of apartments to 288 from 255 in two 4-story buildings. Ground-level retail space also was increased to 37,290 square feet. Plans also call for demolishing substantially less of the mall proper than originally envisioned.
‘The right time to exit’: Wheeling’s District Brew Yards is closing
Wheeling’s District Brew Yards restaurant and brewery soon will close for good after less than three years on Restaurant Row. With an unusual pour-your-own-beverage system, the food hall-style operation will serve its last beers Sept. 28, founder Steve Soble said in an email.
Developer to spend $30 million on new industrial buildings in Des Plaines
A real estate developer intends to spend $30 million to raze three unused or underused industrial buildings and construct three new ones in central Des Plaines. Georgia-based Seefried Industrial Properties plans to put up the buildings on the north and south sides of Algonquin Road east of Mount Prospect Road, in the 3rd Ward.
Opponents of Ascension’s plan to halt obstetric services at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village took their case to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, which held a hearing this week in Elk Grove Village. They gave testimony highlighting potential risks to expectant mothers as childbirth services are consolidated under the umbrella of the St. Alexius Women and Children’s Hospital in Hoffman Estates.
Luxury rental development in Cary gets zoning approval, despite resident outcry over traffic, safety
Zoning commissioners gave a positive recommendation to a proposed mixed-use luxury community in Cary despite resident concerns over a road extension that would connect a neighborhood street to Route 31. The proposal, called Seasons at Cary, includes almost 5 acres of commercial space and 360 units of what’s been described as luxury rental housing with a pool house, pickleball courts and other amenities.
How the Bears stadium approval process might look
Arlington Heights village officials and Bears brass are meeting behind the scenes to finalize a site plan for the 326-acre Arlington Park property before unveiling those sketches publicly and kicking off a municipal approval process expected to take at least a year. Mayor Jim Tinaglia said he is talking at least a half hour every week with team President/CEO Kevin Warren on Zoom — while their respective staff of planners, engineers, lawyers and consultants have meetings of their own — to determine the precise location of the team’s domed stadium on the sprawling site, as well as other aspects of what would be one of the largest redevelopment projects in Illinois history.