An office campus in Lincolnshire could soon also be the home to Chicagoland’s third Top Golf facility and a 450,000-square-foot fitness center. The Daily Herald reported on the proposal slated for a 43-acre site north of Route 22 and west of the Tri-State Tollway. 

Chicago-based real estate developer GlenStar Properties proposed the sprawling plan for a mostly unused office campus that was purchased by Medline Industries in January 2015. The medical supply company never occupied the space.

Now the campus could be transformed into The St. James, a high-end fitness center offering an indoor water park, NHL-sized ice rinks, and more. Based out of Virginia, the health and fitness company is in the process of opening its first location in Springfield, Va., which is expected to open in September 2018.

Together the two athletic facilities would serve as a destination in Lincolnshire and generate sales tax venue for the village. Rand A. Diamond, managing principal of GlenStar, told the publication that the fitness center could employ 300 to 400 people and bring in an estimated 1.5 million visitors annually.

There are still a few hoops to jump through for the development team. The architectural review board must approve the plans before going to the village board and the public. The project has the support of Mayor Liz Brandt and trustee Karen Feldman who both agree the facility could benefit local businesses and the community in general.

The St. James would be a membership-based fitness center and also host athletic tournaments and showcases that would be open to the public.

The existing office and maintenance building would be demolished, as well as a significant amount of surrounding trees. According to the village, many of the trees that would be removed are dead or in decline. However, the surrounded wetlands would be preserved.