Hoffman Estates village board members are moving towards approval of a massive concept plan that will redevelop the former AT&T campus into a self-contained “City Works” residential/business community.
Published reports indicate that community’s planning, building and zoning committee approved a proposed development agreement with Somerset on May 7, setting the stage for the full council approval on May 14.
There are still additional levels of approval before construction can start on the 150- acre site. Final approval of even the earliest office components is likely six months away, The Real Deal reports. However, councillors are impressed with Somerset’s proposal, applying lessons learned on a conversion of the two million-sq. ft. former Bell Labs building in Holmdel, NJ.
DataBid reports the plans call for self-contained metropolis (Metroburb) with new residential retail and hotel developments.
There will be 550 residential units at the telecom giant’s former home, which will also include a “town center” with 1.2 million sq. ft. of offices 80,000 sq. ft. of conferencing space 60,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail and a neighboring 200-room hotel.
Preliminary plans show 375 apartments and 175 town homes primarily on the property’s eastern border which would bring “24/7 life to the site that is vital to its success,” DataBid reports.
The existing buildings would mostly continue to be used as offices with suites ranging from 1,000 to 100,000 sq. ft. but with the atrium in the main building used as a “pedestrian street” with retail shops and restaurants with 24-hour public access.
A later phase of the development would include constructing the hotel near the northwest corner of the main office building.