Schaumburg is one of the biggest hubs in the Chicagoland area for shopping and entertainment, and recent news suggests the area will see improvements in local amenities and a boost in residential development. The village has been in the news recently for improvements in solar energy and education facilities, as well as large-scale developments, and the next 15 years could hold major shifts in the landscape of Schaumburg.  

The Future of Schaumburg

In February, Schaumburg homeowners got easier access to solar energy after the village received a SolSmart Silver designation. With the news, homeowners could more quickly and affordably install a solar energy system on their properties. It’s great news for current homeowners and could help sway developers toward including green energy resources in their plans.

According to the Daily Herald, Schaumburg’s comprehensive land plan is expected to see some modern updates and a plot of land will make way for a large residential development. 

Schaumburg plan commissioners recommended changes to the 22-year-old land use plan, which went to the village board for approval March 27. The changes were based on feedback from village trustees, and among them was a new allowance of residential development near Pace’s Northwest Transportation Center to the west of the Streets of Woodfield. 

The original plan for the area was low-density homes and townhomes, but the new plan suggests luxury high-rise condos.

The plan changes extend beyond residential as well. The plan’s map was updated to include the Schaumburg Regional Airport, Metra station, Schaumburg Golf Club, and Olympic Park. The plan also includes the future of the former Motorola Solutions Campus. 

The Motorola campus, a 225-acre plot of land at the southwest corner of Algonquin and Meacham Road, may include new homes, a senior housing facility, medical offices, and a Topgolf sports complex. It’s intended to be a self-contained community of offices, residences, and more. 

Landowners UrbanStreet Group LLC recently got a $30.1 million loan from Pangea Mortgage Capital and T2 Capital Management to help assist in development of the site, according to the Daily Herald. If all goes as planned, locals will start to see amenities open up next year.

District 211 Makes Big Sale and Big Improvements

Photo courtesy of District 211

The District 211 school board voted unanimously to sell a vacant 62 acres of land to Naperville-based M/I Homes of Chicago LLC, the highest bidder for the land. The developer paid $20.5 million to the Palatine-Schaumburg High School District and is planning a residential neighborhood. The land is bordered by Summit Drive to the west, Plum Grove Road to the east, Wise Road to the south, and an existing subdivision to the north. 

The board decided to sell the land after a vote in December 2017. The district has owned the land for decades, and it’s original plan was for a new school in 1974. It never needed to build on the land, and village officials have long considered it as a potential spot for single-family homes. About 40 acres is buildable, according to the Herald. 

No plans for the land have been submitted either formally or informally, according to the village’s Community Development Director Julie Fitzgerald.

The future homes may even be more desirable following the planned renovations at District 211 schools. An estimated $13.8 million is expected to be used to renovate the district’s five schools, and an additional undetermined amount will go toward improving the athletic fields at Conant High School in nearby Hoffman Estates. 

Conant will see renovations of its restrooms, upgrades to the 1965 air-handling equipment, and a partial roof replacement. Hoffman Estates High School will get a renovation of its media center and improvements of the parking lot. The parking lot will be redone in two phases, the second of which will be completed in 2019. 

Fremd High School in Palatine will get an improved cooling system in its auditorium and courtyard and a roof replacement. Both Fremd and Schaumburg High School will get turf and track surfaces replaced.

So, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that the community was ranked as the Illinois’ best place to live in 2017 by Money Magazine.

The publication ranked Schaumburg for its projected 2.97 percent job growth and abundance of local amenities and resources. Located in the ‘Golden Corridor,’ Schaumburg has always had a reputation for its economic and manufacturing opportunities. There’s also plenty of indoor recreation, like the state’s biggest shopping mall and one of the state’s largest libraries.