Lake County Gazette

The Arlington Heights Village Board approved extensions for an ongoing development proposal and a request for development and zoning extensions during the board's April 17 meeting.

However, the board stipulated that if the Arlington 425 project doesn't break ground in the next 12 months, developers will have to submit a new development application and start the process over.

The project extension requests date back to 2021, from a planned unit development for the areas around Campbell Street, Highland Avenue and Chestnut Avenue. The development would have a 10-story, 234-unit building with retail space, a five-story, 85 unit-building, with an additional 4-5 story parking garage. The developers face a May 3 deadline but have not yet broken ground, so they asked the board for a 12-month extension on it and another project.

Trustee Robin LeBedz expressed doubt in the development, saying she has wondered "Is it really going to happen?

" Are you going to be able to produce the project that you hope to have?" she asked the developer, adding "It's a great project. But as the others have said, I do see projects that are moving forward in this community," adding that those projects also face the same hurdles as the Arlington project. 

"And so I too wondered how you were going to move forward. I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and, you know, approve this recommendation. But I will say I also have concerns that in 12 months we're going to be sitting here and talking some more."

Developers cited the impact of the pandemic on major construction and increased prices as reasons for the extension, as well as unpredictable labor and supply chains, as well as inflation, it has been difficult for them to nail down prices and secure lenders, they said. 

LeBedz pointed out that other developers face those same issues but continue with their projects.

Developer Bruce Adreani told the board they are confident that the market is settling down and they will be able to proceed soon. Adreani also explained that the potential of the new Bears stadium being put in Arlington Heights downtown, it makes their development uncertain of potential impacts.

Some of the trustees expressed frustration with the lack of progress from the developers, with no evidence of any plans or attempts to even break ground at their location. 

Trustee Mary Beth Canty wanted to see concrete plans from the developer so the current situation wouldn't be repeated next year.