Development Activity

As a non-profit community-based developer, it takes GROWTH an average of 3 or more years to identify and source all the financing necessary to complete the capital stack of each development phase. As a non-profit that is known nationally for its ability to navigate complex layering of financing sources, GROWTH is working hard behind the scenes to meet its development objectives.

GROWTH is redeveloping Shimer Square as a phased redevelopment encapsulating the entire campus footprint of the historic Shimer College, a 14-acre campus with a total of 17 buildings, former residential halls and instructional buildings solidly constructed between the time from 1903 and 1957.

While its revitalization work will take many years, GROWTH takes a community minded approach having an extra eye for detail, restoring unique characteristics, and preservation of the artifacts of academics past, while building for the future.

Shimer Square’s future is one of brightness and opportunity. Planned development efforts celebrate the past while building for the future, restoring and revitalizing the historic campus into a new, mixed-use neighborhood with residential, commercial, and community amenities. ​

Development Update

On November 22, 2022, GROWTH's President/CEO Brian Hollenback, Vice President Char Flickinger, and Construction Director Andy Fisher presented an update on Shimer Square to the Mount Carroll City Council. 

In these unprecedented times post-COVID with rising construction costs, labor shortages, rising interest rates, GROWTH continues to persevere and is proud of its success to date bringing new investment and growth to the Mount Carroll community. To date, GROWTH has been successful in attracting resources amounting to $32,550,000 that will be deployed directly into the campus to create vital housing, business, and community amenities. This will create a new tax base to further increase the quality of life and community amenities that Mount Carroll proudly offers. 

Shimer Square Phase 1A

GROWTH's $1.5 Million Rebuild Illinois Economic
Development grant was awarded and is being deployed into the campus for utility infrastructure, roads, walks, and abatement of the former President home, Sawyer House, which will become a Resource Center providing financial literacy and business development education for entrepreneurs, homeowners, and residential tenants by providing access to resources and tools to help grow business and homeownership opportunities.

---

---

---

Demolition of former Maintenance Building

Growth General Contracting, LLC coordinated the demolition of the dilapidated maintenance building on campus that occurred on Monday, November 7 and Tuesday, November 8, 2022. The maintenance building demolition was carefully coordinated to maintain and preserve as many of the bricks to reuse in redevelopment efforts on other buildings.

---

Redevelopment of Bennett Hall and Hathaway Hall

The phase identified in blue on the aerial map depicted above includes  the adaptive-reuse of two former instructional halls, Bennett and Hathaway Halls, and creates 37 new units of workforce housing. 

This phase represents more than $13 million in total project costs, and will create and support more than 271 jobs through its construction period.  Phase I redevelopment is anticipated to generate annual property taxes of over $20,000 creating a new tax base for the community to benefit while officially igniting GROWTH's plans set forth for the campus that have been in place for many years. 

---

Redevelopment of McKee, Hostetter, and Dezendorf Hall

The phase identified in yellow on the aerial map depicted above) includes  the adaptive-reuse of three buildings, McKee and Hostetter Hall (appearing as one building) and Dezendorf Hall converting the former residential halls into into 51 units of rental housing featuring studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms ranging from 580 to 1,125 square feet. 

Amenities will include a community room, game room, library area, walking path, community garden, bike racks, picnic tables, and outdoor grill area.

​Total project costs exceed $25 million will provide housing that is affordable to new residents who wish to call Shimer Square home. An entirely new tax base will be created for the city of Mount Carroll in addition to creating and supporting 200 construction jobs.