My take is that corporate HQs are the equivalent of a major league sports team (though orders of magnitude better for the economy than another stadium). You get a relatively small number of employees and some prestige, but not a lot of secondary industry compared to what production facilities generate -- or used to, anyway. Economic development's a tough game these days; the rules have changed and no one's really sure what the new ones are.

Well have I got some sweet news for you then: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160111/BLOGS02/1601...

I wonder if they'll close and sell off the Barrington property. That alone will probably pay for the buildout of the downtown offices.