BATAVIA – Aldi Inc. on Wednesday moved closer to building a six-story addition to its corporate headquarters on Kirk Road after Batavia plan commissioners recommended approval of the plans.
The City Council's Community Development Committee is set to review the plans in January, followed by the full City Council.
Aldi officials said they hope to start construction of the 82-foot-high building in spring 2010, with completion set for late 2011.
Aldi's 56-acre campus at 1200 N. Kirk Road serves as the U.S. headquarters for Aldi Corp. The original office and warehouse were constructed in 1980, and the campus currently consists of two connected office buildings and a warehouse.
The office buildings are four and five stories in height.
Aldi's growth is driving the project. The grocery chain operates more than 1,000 stores across the United States.
"It makes good sense with the success we've had that we continue to expand in the area here," said Brian Holcombe, director of real estate for Aldi Inc.
Aldi Inc. employs 375 people at its corporate headquarters, and plans to add another 75 to 85 employees in the next two to four years, Holcombe said.
The proposed six-story building would be the tallest building ever built in Batavia, Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke said.
However, it would still be dwarfed by the 16-story Wilson Hall at nearby Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. Wilson Hall is not within the city's limits, Schielke said.
The proposed building would add 80,000 square feet of office space, meeting and conference rooms and product sampling space, city planner Drew Rackow said.
"The new building will provide additional office space for existing employees and room for additional employees in the future," Rackow said.
Rackow said the proposed building is designed to blend with the existing buildings.
"The three office buildings will be further integrated with glass building links and the addition of new windows on the west and north elevations," Rackow said.
Aldi proposes to build 484 parking spaces with the construction of the addition. However, the city's zoning code requires 724 spaces.
The spaces are designed and designated on the plan, but will not be built until necessary, Rackow said.
Plan commissioners recommended that staff monitor the parking use and notify Aldi of parking issues that would require the construction of all or a portion of the remaining parking spaces.
