Ralph Zucker-led developer gets approval for AT&T campus overhaul

Plans to redevelop the former AT&T office campus in the northern suburb of Hoffman Estates have been approved by village trustees.

Inspired by Somerset Development will be able to move forward with its plans to transform the former business park into a “metroburb” with two sections of residential units adjacent to the rehabbed office building, Crain’s reported. The company, led by Ralph Zucker, plans to build 164 townhouses and 300 apartments.

The village board approved the residential portion, which will add to the office space, restaurants and gyms already open in the former office building.

Plans for the townhouses show they will be three stories, have three bedrooms, a two-car garage and the option for a fourth bedroom. They will be priced in the mid-$400,000s. The apartments were approved only as a concept since Inspired hasn’t finalized plans yet.

New Jersey’s Somerset Development bought the 1.6 million-square-foot campus in 2019, planning to turn it into a “metroburb” where people would work, shop, eat and live. The $200 million plan hit a roadblock when the pandemic forced companies to rethink their workspace needs.

Somerset has now leased 100,000 square feet of the 325,000 square feet of its office space. Tenants include Crystal Clean, Platinum Home Mortgage, Headline Solar and CPA Advisors Group, all of whom followed the first lessee, Fairgrounds Craft Coffee & Tea. The building also includes co-working space and a renovated fitness center.

Hoffman Estates village manager Eric Palm said the development will be “a really unique self-contained place where you can walk out of your townhouse and over to the [main] building to your job, to a restaurant to have dinner, to a workout facility.” 

The approval also covered the creation of a pedestrian and bike path through the residential portion that will connect it to the forest preserve and the main Bell Works building.

 — Victoria Pruitt