Hub Group Moving to Burr Ridge? Not So Fast, Company Says

Reports that Hub Group, Inc. was ready to relocate to Burr Ridge and bring 500 jobs to the community may have been premature.

Earlier this summer, the Burr Ridge Village Board unanimously approved allowing construction of a four-story office building at 100 Harvester Drive. The potential tenant for the site was not named at the time, but it was subsequently reported to be Hub Group, Inc.

Burr Ridge Village Manager Steve Stricker said Wednesday that the company had sent Mayor Gary Grasso an email this week noting that Hub Group still had not made a final decision on relocation.

“They’re continuing to analyze their options,” Stricker said.

Hub Group is in the business of intermodal freight transportation, using containers that can travel by rail, truck, or ship. The company website says it is the largest intermodal marketing company in North America.

The firm has offices in 20 cities, from Los Angeles to New York and Mexico City to Toronto. Its corporate offices are located at 3050 Highland Parkway in Downers Grove, an office building located at the Highland Ave. exit of Interstate 88.

“The current lease doesn’t expire until late 2012,” noted Ann Wallin, the company’s internal audit director.

Wallin is managing the relocation effort for Hub Group. She said the company has simply outgrown its current space. However, she said no decision has been made on a future headquarters location.

“There are numerous sites under consideration and we have not selected one at this time,” she said.

Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation President Michael Cassa said he could not comment specifically on whether or not the village was trying to find a suitable site that would keep Hub Group in Downers Grove. However, he acknowledged that the community does its best to retain existing businesses.

“We help companies come to Downers Grove and we help companies that want to stay in Downers Grove,” he said. “Every economic development corporation in America does the same thing.”

There is evidence of recent activity at the Harvester Drive site, but so far no construction has begun on top of the existing foundation, which was completed several years ago. Work on a planned three-story office building at the site was halted when the recession hit.

The property is owned by BJF Estancia I, LLC of 150 Harvester Drive, Burr Ridge. The company agent is listed as Brian J. Flanagan. The same address also houses the office of Mars Equities, Inc., which is the leasing agent for the property. Flanagan is the president of that company.

A person answering the phone Tuesday at Mars Equities said no one was available to comment on the status of the site and a message had not been returned as of Wednesday morning.