One of DuPage County’s prime areas for commercial development lies in the middle of the county. But anyone watching the county grow westward over the last 15 years knows that cornfields turn to commercial development almost overnight.
“The primary area we see as a growth area is the land near the DuPage Airport. There are 1,000 acres of land up there at the airport, with about 700 that is developable,” said Robert Schillerstrom, chairman of the DuPage County Board. He is awaiting a state-funded feasibility study on developing a high-technology, research-and-development park there. The results of the study, launched in July, are expected in late April.
“I’m confident that this is a great spot with vacant space and close to the Fermi (National Accelerator) Laboratory. A place like this will take some of these incubator companies and hopefully get them to the next phase, keeping them in Illinois and in DuPage County.”
Bonnie Wood, executive director of the East West Corporate Corridor Association, agreed, having long thought that the area was perfect for a think tank.
“I believe that is an area that could greatly enhance the entire region,” she said.
Here is where other commercial development is happening in the county, according to the DuPage County planning office:
– Internationale Centre in Woodridge: 383 acres for business park and commercial.
– Meridian Business Park, Aurora: 620 acres for business park, commercial and open space, north of the Fox Valley Mall.
– The Chancellory, Itasca: 278 acres for office, hotel and commercial.
– Turnberry Lakes, Roselle and Hanover Park: 522 acres for business park, industrial, commercial and residential.
– Covington Corporate Center, Bloomingdale: 189 acres for business park and commercial.
– Burr Ridge Mixed Use: 305 acres for residential, office, hotel, business park, commercial and institutional.
