Des Plaines Approves 226-Unit Apartment Building
The City Council gave final approval to the Golf and Wolf roads development after the mayor broke a 4-4 tie.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in City Hall
Live Poll
Would you support a new apartment building that adds traffic to your community?
Des Plaines City Council approved a 226-unit apartment building with some retail space at the northwest corner of Golf and Wolf roads. Mayor Andrew Goczkowski broke a 4-4 tie to approve the plan at a Monday, November 2, 2026 vote.
Why it matters
The project replaces vacant land where the former United Feather & Down Factory once employed 250 people, bringing new housing to Des Plaines residents. Many neighbors oppose the development, primarily over concerns about increased traffic at the intersection.
The council's final approval followed a 5-2 first-consideration vote on Oct. 19, but the project still requires a traffic plan agreed with the Illinois Department of Transportation before returning for Planned Unit Development approval. The exact design of the widened Golf-Wolf intersection has not been finalized.
The players
Andrew Goczkowski
Andrew Goczkowski is the Mayor of Des Plaines, whose tie-breaking vote secured approval of the apartment development.
Noah Properties
Noah Properties is the developer behind the proposed 226-unit apartment building at Golf and Wolf roads.
Illinois Department of Transportation
The Illinois Department of Transportation oversees state roadways and must work with the developer on reconfiguring the Golf-Wolf intersection.
The details
The 226 one- and two-bedroom units would sit on the former United Feather & Down site, with a cafe or restaurant likely on the north end near the Cumberland train station. Plans call for widening the intersection to allow apartment traffic in and out and to add two left-turn lanes from Golf onto Wolf.
Timeline
Oct. 19: Aldermen voted 5-2 in favor at first consideration.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Council granted final approval on the mayor's tie-breaking vote.
Late 2028: Construction could be completed, if final approval and traffic planning proceed.
Legal Context
Approval of this project remains conditional under the Planned Unit Development process, which requires a final council vote once traffic arrangements with state transportation officials are settled. The outcome shows how a close council split can hinge on a single tie-breaking vote in local zoning decisions.
Residents near Golf and Wolf roads should expect changes to traffic patterns as the intersection is widened to accommodate apartment traffic and two new left-turn lanes. The project would add 226 housing units to the local market, with one- and two-bedroom options available.
The takeaway
Local zoning votes can turn on a single tie-breaking vote, so residents who follow council agendas can track how traffic commitments are resolved before construction moves forward. Watching the Illinois Department of Transportation coordination will show whether the intersection plan meets neighbors' concerns.
What happens next
The developer must meet with the Illinois Department of Transportation to reconfigure the Golf-Wolf intersection before the plan returns to council for final Planned Unit Development approval. If approved, construction could begin with possible completion in late 2028.
Further reading
Follow more local decisions in the Des Plaines City Hall section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Journal Online.
Live Poll
Would you support a new apartment building that adds traffic to your community?
