Hoffman Estates Growing To Greatness

Hoffman Estates new, 85,000 square foot municipal building will eliminate overcrowding and allow for greater efficiency in serving its citizens.

True to its motto, "Growing To Greatness," the Village of Hoffman Estates, IL, has moved to the forefront of the state's economic development efforts. Hoffman Estates' proximity to major state and national roadways continues to be a major thrust in bringing annexation requests from home builders and commercial real estate developers. The village is now home to many people in single family as well as multi-family dwellings and apartments. In addition, its hard-earned reputation for fine government has seen it become the corporate home of Ameritech Services; the midwestern headquarters for Siemens Gammasonics, a major German manufacturer of medical imaging diagnostic equipment and the future home office of the Sears Merchandising Group. From 1989 through 1992, Hoffman Estates will have experienced an influx of approximately 10,000 new jobs. To meet the increasing needs for municipal services brought about by this steady stream of residential and commercial development, the village has embarked on an aggresive program to upgrade its municipal facilities.

This upgrading effort began in 1989, w^th the construction of a new 58, 140 square foot public works facility containing administrative offices, vehicle and material storage and various workshops. Since then, ground has been broken for the construction of an 18, 880 square foot public woks garage to handle fleet maintenance needs along with salt storage, gasing facilities and miscellaneous storage.

Hoffman Estates' growth has also created the need for a larger police force and more general administration personnel. Right now, these people are operating within the limited space of the current village hall. To address this overcrowding, the village took advantage of the soft real estate market and, this past October, negotiated the purchase of an existing 85, 000 square foot corporate office building on approximately 22 acres of land to serve as a new village hall. This acquisition will allow the village's police operations to expand into the vacated administrative offices of the current village hall, effectively doubling their space at little additional cost. The village will avoid the very expensive proposition of constructing a new free-standing police facility by taking this approach. At the same time, Hoffman Estates will acquire enough municipal building space to accommodate potential growth over the next forty years. Occupancy of the new village hall is expected to occur in the summer of 1991.

Still another project in the early planning stages is a fourth fire station for the village. This station would serve the present and future needs of Hoffman Estates' western development area, which contains approximately 2400 acres of undeveloped land. A portion of this western area will serve as the home office for the Sears Merchandising Group and what is anticipated to be a premier, 800-acre business park. The new fire station will also contain space to conduct minor police functions and provide a staging area for Public Works Department operations near the village's western border. "We insist that our employees give their fullest effort in service to our community," says Mayor Michael J. O'Malley, "and these moves help us guarantee the best opportunities for them to do their best." •

February 1991 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 7