Village trustees Tuesday overwhelmingly supported a mixed-use project calling for 280 multifamily units along with two buildings, with 100,000 sf of office and retail space in addition to another 17,000 sf of retail space. A 1,256-car parking deck, which would serve Metra commuters, also would be built. In addition to providing tax increment financing, the village will sell the developer two sites on both sides of the Union Pacific train tracks for $2.74 million. The property was bought by the village for $1.7 million.

The Gateway Center, three office and retail buildings and the parking deck will be built on 4.9 acres that most recently had been the run-down Commuters Plaza shopping center just north of the Metra station. The property was razed and is now used as a parking lot. Joseph Freed & Associates, now based in north suburban Wheeling, will occupy at least 30,000 sf of the four-story office building that also is expected to include a first-floor restaurant.

Construction on the office and retail development will begin this summer, with the Gateway Center expected to be completed next year. The Groves of Palatine, to be built on a 10-acre commuter parking lot, could take as long as four years to complete, Joseph Freed & Associates development manager Dennis Harder says.

"We think this is an excellent solution for both parcels," says Harder, indicating the developer is unfazed by the economic slowdown and uptick in suburban office vacancy rates, telling GlobeSt.com, "We made the deal."

Adds Village Manager Michael Cassady, "The office building will drive the complex."

On the southwest side of the tracks, Freed also plans to build 240 condominiums in four seven-story buildings and 40 rowhouses on the north side of Wood Street between Maple and Woodwork Lane. That portion of the development, worth more than $61 million, is expected to draw new residents as well as "empty nesters" from Palatine.

"We've had terrific interest already with absolutely no marketing," says Robert Fink of Freed & Associates.

Cassady termed the project "a home run" for the village, bringing people to live and work Downtown. Trustee Warren Kostka, whose district includes what will be the Groves of Palatine, says "It's not my father's village any more, but when I'm 79, I won't be embarrassed to live there."

The only dissenting vote came from Trustee Jack Wagner, who objected to the design of the buildings as well as the 86-foot height of the four condominium buildings. "I don't think the building's fit the character of Downtown. This looks like 26th and California," says Wagner, referring to the Cook County criminal courts complex on Chicago's southwest side. "It's like wearing a striped shirt with a plaid suit and checkered tie."

Freed has been involved in suburban Downtown redevelopment project in neighboring Arlington Heights as well as west suburban Wheaton. The 50-year-old firm's Chicago developments include Olympia Lofts and the Mentor Building.