CBRE was involved with three transactions totaling more than 2.98 million square feet of industrial space at ChicagoWest Business Center, a master-planned industrial development in DeKalb, Illinois.
Kraft Heinz is the most recent tenant, committing to a 775,000-square-foot automated warehouse and distribution center, which is currently under construction. Other significant transactions include 1.6 million square feet for Ferrara Candy Company across two buildings and a 517,000-square-foot distribution center with a national e-commerce user.
ChicagoWest is also home to a 900,000-square-foot data center for a global social media company that can accommodate up to 2.4 million square feet for future expansion.
ChicagoWest Business Center is a 1,200-acre, master-planned business park, located about 60 miles west of Chicago in DeKalb. Offering immediate access to I-88 and proximity to the I-39 Logistics Corridor and DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport, tenants are well-positioned for their distribution networks. The development has readily available access to Union Pacific Rail Service to attract other large-scale clients to the area. The DeKalb County labor market includes over 611,000 workers residing within a 40-mile radius.
CBRE’s Matt Mulvihill and Cal Payne represent ChicagoWest Business Center ownership and Trammell Crow Company, for future development. Construction at the center is handled by Krusinski Construction Company. The three companies work as an integrated team through the entire development process to collectively create a deep-rooted relationship with partners, clients and government officials across the DeKalb County area.
Shovel-ready land is available for development at ChicagoWest Business Center, adjacent to current tenants Ferrara Candy Company and Kraft Heinz, and is ready to accommodate the expanded growth for a range of uses including EV-battery manufacturing, data centers, light manufacturing and industrial development. The first available site is comprised of 70 acres and can support a building as large as 1,425,000 square feet, or multiple buildings with possibilities for expansion. The second site available is rail-served and can accommodate up to 1,200,000 square feet.
“In recent years, blue-chip tenants are finding the right fundamentals in DeKalb, and the friendly business environment means the future is bright for further development in the area,” said Mulvihill. “The leases already signed at ChicagoWest Business Center have added 1,700 jobs to the area and that number can climb even further.”
DeKalb had previously not been on the radar for industrial users, with little to no product on the market. The development of ChicagoWest Business Center in 2019 changed that, sparking momentum that continues to this day. Ferrara first saw value in the park after partnering with CBRE’s internal site selection analysis, labor study, and economic incentive groups, leading to other blue-chip tenants taking space in the park. Development in the area isn’t done, with 5.9 MSF of proposed space currently on the market in DeKalb.
