NEW TRIER TOWNSHIP
Artificial turf eyed for Northfield campus
While the Bears struggle to keep their footing on the grass at Soldier Field, New Trier High School’s finance committee will soon discuss whether to install artificial turf on two athletic fields at its Northfield campus, a project that could cost about $3 million.
The natural grass turf on the Northfield campus football field and at an adjoining practice field is sometimes rendered unusable by poor weather, New Trier athletic director Randy Oberembt told the school board recently.
He led a committee that investigated the pros and cons of installing synthetic turf at the school, as well as an analysis of what fields were best candidates for the new surface.
Artificial turf would greatly increase the proposed fields’ use week to week, Oberembt said. Rather than the $40,000 to $60,000 in annual maintenance cost for grass, the synthetic turf would cost $5,000 per year. The district could seek assistance from the school’s Booster Club to help pay for the turf installation.
Studies also show that synthetic turf is safer and results in fewer injuries, Oberembt said.
The Finance Committee is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Monday in Room A301A at the Northfield Campus, 7 Happ Road.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
Apartment project gains traction
The group behind the Arlington Downs development — which aims to turn the now-shuttered former Sheraton Hotel site next to Arlington Park racetrack into high-end apartments — took its first step toward plan approval last week.
The plans were met largely with support by Arlington Heights’ Plat and Subdivision Committee, though some commissioners voiced concerns about parking and who, exactly, would rent the apartments.
The plan calls for the former Sheraton hotel tower to be transformed into a 180-unit apartment building with studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 550 to 1,400 square feet, said Carl Groesbeck, who presented plans for the Argent Group developers.
But the apartment building is just the first step in redevelopment, which will offer retail along with a new hotel, on the nearly 24-acre site.
To feed access to the building, developers will build a road connecting Rohlwing Road, Euclid Avenue and Salt Creek Lane.
Nearby, a new limited-service hotel, similar to a Holiday Inn or Hampton Inn, will be built. Originally, representatives of the Argent Group planned on 108 rooms, but have upped that to about 150 rooms, with the possibility of adding up to 300 if the market bears it out, Groesbeck said.
A water park adjoining the hotel will be completely disconnected from the new apartment building and might not even exist in the future, Groesbeck said.
Retail spots, restaurants and entertainment options will follow, though Groesbeck was less sure how quickly and what exactly they may be.
Commissioner Robin LaBedz was happy to hear there would be a shuttle to the Arlington Park Metra station, though she said people would still need parking.
She thought the development was better suited in a transit-oriented environment, and questioned how well it would work in its spot off Illinois Highway 53 and Euclid Avenue.
“Why would I want to live here?” she said, adding that it was a little bit lonely in that corner of the village. “It isn’t really connected to anything.”
Groesbeck said the group will return with a presentation to the plan commission in a few weeks.
LAKE COUNTY
Survey seeks views on health
The Lake County Health Department is asking residents to share their thoughts and concerns about health issues in their communities. The survey is part of the master plan for improving health that the department puts together every five years.
This year, the new survey is being conducted online in English and Spanish. It’s designed to take 10 minutes and asks questions like: Is Lake County a good place to raise children? Is it a good place to grow old? What are the biggest health issues the community faces? What’s the overall health of the county and its individual communities?
The master plan’s new “key feature is that it is more community-owned,” said Mark Pfister, director of population health services for the county. “We want to help the community to take the responsibility for their own health.”
The survey gets them thinking about local health concerns and what they might be able to do to solve problems, he said.
Once the surveys are tabulated, Pfister said, he hopes the community, from individuals to the director of a nonprofit to hospital officials, can work together for a healthier community.
“We can have a shared vision of what the issues are and how to solve the issues,” he said.
To complete the survey, go to lakecountyil.gov/health.
