Village Leaders, Citizens to Consider Future Housing Needs

Projected population growth combined with changing housing needs and desires could bring new demands in Buffalo Grove, village officials were told this week. 

Buffalo Grove, along with Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Palatine and Rolling Meadows, is a member of the . The group is working with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to conduct a housing study for each village.

During a presentation Monday to the Buffalo Grove Village Board, officials outlined the changes expected as the housing market recovers. Multi-family housing is expected to rebound first, according to one study, while another indicated most Americans believe it’s better to rent than it is to buy in the current market.

A “Homes for a Changing Region” report will include a housing forecast; analysis of market segments, workforce, sustainability and capacity; and recommended strategies for the village.

A draft of a capacity analysis projects that Buffalo Grove’s population will increase by 8,500 by the year 2040, resulting in 2,743 new homes. Nearly 2,000 of those homes could be multi-family units, said Drew Williams-Clark, who represented CMAP at Monday’s meeting.

“We are trying to put people in houses. We’re not suggesting buildings (to construct),” Williams-Clark said.

Community members will be invited to weigh in on Buffalo Grove’s current housing conditions and future needs next month, as the Northwest Suburban Housing Collaborative and CMAP develop a plan for Village Board members to review.

A public workshop will be held at 7 p.m. June 20 at the Buffalo Grove . There, citizens will be asked to “vote on what buildings they like best,” Williams-Clark said.

Preliminary recommendations will be made to the village in October, with a final report expected in November.

There is no cost to the village to participate in this process.

Monday's presentation can be reviewed in the PDF attached to this story.

How do you think Buffalo Grove should plan for the years ahead? Tell us in the comment box below.