Located at Interstate 88 and Route 47 interchange, the mixed-use development will bring new housing, retail, community services, a town center, business park and more to Sugar Grove, Ill.

Crown Community Development (CCD) today announced it has received approval from the Village of Sugar Grove, Ill., for The Grove, a 760-acre master-planned community. The project will include various housing options; an activated town center; over 200 acres of open space featuring parks and trails; public amenities; and a variety of commercial uses. The Grove is strategically located at the interchange of Interstate 88 and Route 47, 45 miles west of Chicago.

“The Grove marks the largest master-planned community in the Chicago area to secure entitlements in 20 years, and we are elated about the economic opportunities and much-needed housing it brings to Sugar Grove and the surrounding region,” said Teri Frankiewicz, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Crown Community Development. “We’re honored to be working alongside the Village on The Grove and committed to creating a vibrant space with retail, restaurants and public amenities, while preserving natural areas, parks and trails that will connect residents to one of the area’s most cherished features – outdoor recreation.”

The Grove’s approved master plan – covering zoning, subdivision and annexation – includes Planned Development District (PDD) zoning across five distinct development areas. The PDD zoning will allow for various uses that meet both market demands and community needs over the course of The Grove’s build-out. Intentionally designed to offer a robust lifestyle experience, The Grove will feature multigenerational residential areas; a town center anchored by a village green with retail, restaurants and entertainment; a highly-amenitized village park; and designated commercial zones for retail, community services, healthcare, e-commerce distribution and/or data centers. More than 200 acres of open green space will include parks, trails and naturalized areas that preserve 70 acres of mature tree groves in the area.

“Positioned at a key connection point – the I-88/Route 47 interchange – The Grove will serve as a catalyst for economic growth in the Village of Sugar Grove and nearby communities,” said Frankiewicz. “We are privileged to be part of this growth, bringing much-needed infrastructure improvements, housing and lifestyle amenities that will appeal to the thousands of travelers along the I-88 corridor as well as residents who already call the Village home.”

Multigenerational Residential

The Grove will feature multiple residential areas thoughtfully designed to provide high-quality housing for all life stages. The flexible PDD zoning accommodates a range of lot configurations, suitable for attached and detached single-family homes, townhomes, active adult neighborhoods, senior living opportunities and market-rate multifamily apartments.

With its prime location at the I-88/Rt. 47 interchange, The Grove offers residents proximity to major employment centers, neighboring suburban retail and recreation districts, as well as highway and train access to Chicago – making it an attractive neighborhood for generations to come.

The Grove Town Center, Village Park and Walking Trails

The Grove’s vibrant new Town Center, situated on 45-acres southeast of I-88/Route 47 interchange, will feature a mix of new businesses offering residents and visitors convenient and entertaining places to live, shop, dine and gather locally. Proposed community-focused storefronts, coffee shops and restaurants will line the walkable streets, creating a lively neighborhood atmosphere while meeting residents’ daily needs.

The Town Center will be anchored by a Village Green, a publicly accessible recreational space featuring a food truck court and an outdoor stage where the community can host concerts, exercise classes or other events. The area is planned to be further enhanced with various seating options, murals by local artists and festive lighting to create a sense of place and encourage social interaction for residents and visitors.

The adjacent 3-acre Village Park will include open space, a beer garden, space for a farmer’s market and various outdoor recreational amenities, such as pickleball courts, playscapes, a splash pad and fishing dock.

Crown Community Development will donate a 0.75-acre site within the Town Center for a new Village Hall to house city offices and other community services.

In addition to parks and preserved tree groves, The Grove will deliver over 5 miles of interconnected trail systems that will provide for potential uninterrupted access across multiple local trail systems, including the Fox Valley Park District’s 11.3-mile Gilman Trail, which stretches from Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove through the Bliss Woods Forest Preserve and follows along Blackberry Creek to Hill Ave. in Montgomery. Designed to seamlessly flow through their natural surroundings, The Grove’s trail systems will connect to the land’s preserved tree groves, making this formerly isolated natural resource easily accessible to all.

The Grove Business Park

Grove Park, a 323-acre commercial and business park district located north of the I-88/Route 47 interchange, can accommodate a variety of land uses, including healthcare, business suites, retail, restaurants, multifamily housing, distribution, a data center and other services that provide job opportunities and benefit the greater Sugar Grove community. When complete, the development is estimated to create approximately 4,600 permanent jobs, with additional jobs generated during the construction of the residential, commercial and recreational buildings and community spaces.

Grove Park incorporates numerous design and landscaping considerations to ensure the area complements the aesthetics of its surrounding area. Larger industrial buildings have expansive set back requirements from the roadway and will be surrounded with trees and lushly landscaped berms to serve as a buffer between the buildings and roadways. Additional aesthetic considerations include uniform signage that aligns with the architectural style of the community.

The project also adheres to Dark Skies preservation requirements, reducing outdoor lighting to conserve energy and protect the nighttime environment.

Tax Increment Financing

To unlock the economic value of the land, the Village of Sugar Grove has established a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District for a term of up to 23 years. The TIF will be used to reimburse specific eligible infrastructure expenditures including road improvements, water and sewer systems, grading and drainage improvements, park amenities and landscaping. The Redevelopment Agreement for The Grove established an 80/20 split, with 80% of the increment allocated to infrastructure reimbursements, 10% to the Village of Sugar Grove and the remaining 10% distributed pro-rata to local taxing bodies in the district, including the Kaneland School District, the Elburn & Countryside Fire Protection District, the Sugar Grove Fire Protection District and the Sugar Grove Library.

Based on CCD’s detailed projections, The Grove is anticipated to net a $27.4 million positive fiscal impact over its 20-year build-out period.

Next Steps

In the coming months, CCD will finalize engineering plans and secure permits. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025 on The Grove’s first phase of residential housing. For more details, visit www.thegroveillinois.com or follow The Grove on Facebook at TheGroveIllinois.

About Crown Community Development:

For more than 35 years, Crown Community Development has been investing in and developing communities that are models for excellence in land stewardship and neighborhood development. To date, Crown has developed/invested in over 16 residential and commercial communities in markets including Chicago, Tampa, Seattle, Denver, Nashville, Indianapolis, Austin, San Antonio and Gettysburg, Pa. Crown Community Development is part of The Henry Crown and Company, established in 1919 as a family-owned building materials business. Learn more at Crown Community Development.

Images accompanying this release can be found here.