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Huge development proposed for Astellas Pharm site
A view of land at the existing Astellas Pharma US, Inc. located at the northwest corner of Willow Road & Tri-State Tollway on Monday, April 9, 2012, in Glenview. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media
Updated: January 14, 2013 12:13PM
GLENVIEW — The Glenview Plan Commission is studying a proposal to bring a high-density apartment complex and one of the area’s largest Mariano’s grocery stores to the village.
The 290-unit, four-story apartment building at Willow and Sanders roads will go along with several other structures to be built, including the 90,000-square-foot Mariano’s.
In a site-plan presentation to commissions on Nov. 27, Dan Farrell, vice president of real estate for Mariano’s, said most stores were 72,000-square feet.
The Mariano’s in Arlington Heights, he said, was recently expanded to 70,000-square feet.
“We see the Glenview store as a regional location, not a neighborhood one. The day-time population in the area is really triggering this project,” Farrell said.
The Glenview Mariano’s would anchor the site, where $140-million Astellas Pharma US headquarters opened in June, creating nearly 250 jobs.
A 75,000-square-foot Mariano’s has also been proposed for the former Avon Products facility on Overlook Drive in Glenview.
Commissioner Mark Igleski expected the apartment/retail development would create “a massive amount of traffic,” especially with nearby I-295 serving as a feeder into the village.
“We see high traffic that’s already there because of the tollway. We’re not pulling from 40 to 50 miles away,” Farrell said.
“About 70 percent of our business comes from 2 to 3 miles away.”
Other proposed businesses were L.A. Fitness, Chase Bank, Starbucks with a drive-thru, a Chipotle restaurant and a Gardner School for preschoolers.
Forty percent of the apartments would be one-bedroom and sixty percent are two-bedroom. Monthly rents would be $1,275 to $2,500.
Doug Bober, of Lennar Homebuilders, told commissioners the area had a limited supply of apartments and the $65-million Glenview project would be for professionals, couples and singles.
“We’ve met with officials from School District 31 and they’ve recommended us being here. We’re not attracting many kids,” Bober said.
He also said he had met with workers from large surrounding corporations, such as Allstate Insurance, Astellas and CVS Pharmacy.
“These companies are interested in corporate housing for employees. They want us here,” Bober said.
At 7 p.m. Dec. 11, the Plan Commission will continue studying the project for traffic and finances.
“Traffic will be a huge part of the discussion. We have a lot of information to cover with many sites, here,” said Plan Chairman Steven Bucklin.
“This project is a great opportunity for the community and hopefully bringing in new businesses.”
On April 2, Glenview trustees approved a land-use change from residential condos to apartments and retail center due to a sagging housing market.
In 2008, the developer GlenStar Properties first proposed building 290 apartments in a four-story structure instead of 156 residential units.
Two hotels also were proposed — Homewood Suites and Hampton Inn and Suites — that would have shared an eight-story, 96-foot-tall building.
Lawrence Debb, of Glen star Properties that is overseeing the current proposal, said the national increase in room vacancy rates prevented building hotels since the economic downturn and they were dropped from the plan.
