Eyeing neighbor cities' housing playbooks

If you've driven down the Stevenson Expressway recently, you might have noticed a cheeky message aimed directly at Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce has launched a high-profile ad campaign right here in Pritzker's backyard.

The group has put up a pair of billboards along Interstate 55, tongue-in-cheek naming Governor Pritzker the runner-up for Florida's Economic Developer of the Year, directly thanking him for jobs moving to Florida.

The billboards are facing traffic in both directions and are set to run for a week.

This isn't the first time the Sunshine State group has targeted northern states.

Illinois was next on their list following a similar campaign launched in New York last month.

The Florida Chamber argues that lower taxes and business-friendly policies are luring companies, residents, and significant wealth south.

According to their data, Illinois ranks as the second largest source of federally taxable income relocating to Florida, representing a net loss of $2.4 billion for the Prairie State.

Florida Chamber President Mark Wilson released a statement saying, "...people and businesses have choices and they are choosing states where they have the opportunity to grow and succeed." Recent Census Bureau numbers show contrasting trends between the two states.

Florida's population grew from roughly 21.5 million in 2020 to over 23.4 million in 2025.

Meanwhile, Illinois remains below its 2020 peak, hovering around 12.7 million.

The political jab comes at a notable time.

Governor Pritzker, currently seeking a third term in office, has consistently defended Illinois' economic trajectory, pointing to consecutive credit rating upgrades and state investments as evidence of a strong fiscal recovery.

A major North Shore office complex is hitting the market, setting up a key test for suburban Chicago's struggling real estate sector.

Crane's Danny Ecker reports Japanese drug maker Astellas Pharmaceutical has hired brokers from TransWestern to sell its massive two-building campus along Interstate 294 in Northbrook.

Built in 2012 for $150 million, the 430,000 square foot property is being offered as a potential sale lease back.

Astellas plans to sign a long-term lease to remain in roughly 85,000 square feet of the complex's south building.

While older suburban office parks are grappling with record-high vacancies and weak demand in the hybrid work era, high-end properties are bucking the trend.

Astellas' campus is currently 98% leased, anchored by major long-term commitments from fertilizer maker CF Industries and medical supplier Medline, which signed a massive 210,000-square-foot deal in 2024.

Real estate data shows the property boasts an average remaining lease term of over nine years, offering buyers a rare, steady cash flow stream in a volatile market.

The sale comes as the surrounding area undergoes a massive industrial transformation.

The nearby former Allstate headquarters was recently redeveloped into a major industrial park, and the adjacent Caremark Towers complex is slated to be replaced by modern warehouses.

There is currently no official asking price listed, and Astellas executives have not commented on what prompted the decision to sell.