What DeKalb development is coming in 2026 and 2027?
Most DeKalb development right now is industrial and sits on the south side near I-88 and Peace Road: a 114-acre business park anchored by a Pilot Travel Center, a 147-acre Goodyear distribution site, a 186,040 square foot factory, and a Kraft Heinz distribution building. Farther south, the City approved Edged’s 560-acre data center campus and a new ComEd substation. For commuters, the City is paying for a study of extending Metra’s UP-West Line from Elburn to DeKalb.
By Kealan O’Neil | October 31, 2026
DeKalb is one of the farthest-west towns in Chicago’s Western Suburbs that we cover, and it’s changing faster than many buyers expect.
A recent r/DeKalbArea thread asked, “How’s the commute to Chicago suburbs or downtown, especially in winters?” That’s a fair first question. The second one should be what’s getting built near the home you like.
The City’s own Zoning and Development Projects list, updated October 14, 2026, reads like a map of the next few years. Here’s what it shows, plus what’s on the November hearing calendar, so you can follow DeKalb development on your own.
DeKalb development near I-88: 4 industrial projects
The busiest stretch is the Peace Road and Fairview Drive area just north of I-88. A City Council agenda from August 2026 describes nearby ChicagoWest Business Center sites as home to Meta, Kraft Heinz, Ferrara, Amazon, Pilot, and Goodyear.
1. DeKalb Commerce Center and the Pilot Travel Center
In January 2026 the City annexed and rezoned about 114 acres at the southeast corner of Peace Road and Fairview Drive for an industrial and commercial business park. The City’s list shows it approved on January 26, 2026, with construction in 2026 and 2027.
The first piece is a Pilot Travel Center on about 10 acres at the corner. The staff report describes an 11,250 square foot gas station and convenience store, fuel islands for trucks, and 58 truck trailer parking spaces on the east side of the lot.
The staff report also says the uses for the rest of the park aren’t settled yet. If you’re looking at homes near that corner, plan on more truck traffic as the park fills in.
2. Goodyear’s distribution site
Across Fairview, at the northeast corner of Peace Road and Fairview Drive, the City approved a 147-acre site for a Goodyear distribution and warehouse facility. Annexation and rezoning passed in October 2024, and the City’s list shows construction in 2026 and 2027.
3. Project Big Lakes in Park 88
In June 2026 the Council approved Ordinance 2026-021, a two-lot subdivision on 47.1 acres at Fairview Drive and Macom Drive. The plan shows a 186,040 square foot manufacturing building for a maker of climate control and energy management systems, with room for a future expansion of 185,640 square feet.
The staff report says the applicant wanted to start grading in July 2026 and be operating by the middle of 2027. Trucks would use two curb cuts on Macom Drive.
4. Kraft Heinz at ChicagoWest Business Center
At the northwest corner of Gurler and Peace roads, the City approved a 775,000 square foot phase 1 building plus a phase 2 building in 2022 for food distribution, packing, and storage. The City’s list shows construction running from 2025 through 2027.
For buyers, this side of DeKalb development cuts both ways. If you’ll work at one of these sites, a short drive is a real plus. If you want a quiet street, check which roads the trucks will use before you write an offer.
Data centers and new power lines in DeKalb
DeKalb development also includes some of the largest data center approvals in the area, and the power lines to serve them.
5. Edged’s Project Vector data center
On December 8, 2025, the City approved annexation, rezoning, and a concept plan for Edged’s Project Vector. It covers about 560 acres near Route 23 and Keslinger Road and includes four data center buildings and two electrical substations.
A separate 2024 approval at the northeast corner of Peace and Gurler roads allows a 1,750,000 square foot data center in seven buildings. Our guide to what data centers mean for nearby home buyers covers questions that apply here too: noise, lighting, construction traffic, and what sits between the building and the closest homes.
6. ComEd’s Keslinger substation and the KARE line
On August 24, 2026, the Council took up annexing about 160 acres at the northeast corner of Keslinger and Crego roads for a ComEd transmission substation, and the City’s list shows it approved that night. It’s part of ComEd’s Kishwaukee Area Reliability Expansion, which includes an approximately six-mile, double-circuit 345kV line from Waterman to DeKalb.
The Illinois Commerce Commission approved the line and the Keslinger Substation on August 6, 2026. The City’s agenda says the added power supports future phases of the Meta data center, the Edged project, NIU’s sustainability center, and other growth.
The site plan shows an eight-foot fence, three driveways on Crego Road, and little traffic once it’s running. If you’re looking on DeKalb’s south or southeast edge, ask where the new line will run before you fall for a backyard view.
DeKalb development that affects homes and commutes
Industrial projects get the headlines, but a few items on the list touch housing, transit, and monthly costs more directly.
7. The Metra UP-West extension study
Today the UP-West Line ends in Elburn, about 15 miles east of DeKalb, according to a City presentation at IDOT’s 2026 fall planning conference. On April 13, 2026, the Council approved Resolution 2026-047, a $499,276 agreement with TY Lin for a Planning and Environmental Linkages study of the rail corridor between Elburn and DeKalb.
The City’s rail study presentation cites a 2023 feasibility study that estimated 200 to 250 daily riders, 12 round trips a day, a 90 to 105 minute ride to downtown Chicago, and a $385 million capital cost in 2023 dollars.
A study isn’t a train, and no service is funded. Treat it as a long-range possibility, not a reason to pay more for a home today. Our Elburn development guide covers what’s happening around the current end of the line.
New homes and apartments on the City’s list
The approved Villas at Bridges of Rivermist plan, on the north side of Bethany Road, allows 22 detached homes, 19 six-unit townhome buildings, 22 four-unit townhome buildings, and a clubhouse.
On West Dresser Road, a builder brought a concept plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission on September 8, 2026, for 23 one-story ranch homes with attached two-car garages on 5.8 acres. The builder’s letter says a homeowners association would mow lawns and plow the main roads, but it’s only a concept and still needs annexation, rezoning, and a public hearing.
Downtown, the City approved converting 145 Fisk Ave. into a 32-unit apartment building in January 2026.
Three hearings to watch in November
The City’s public hearings page lists these dates:
- November 2, Planning and Zoning Commission: a Shodeen Group petition to annex and rezone about 61 acres at the southwest corner of Route 38 and Webster Road for industrial uses, and to amend agreements on about 64 acres at Peace Road and Route 38 to allow industry-related uses while keeping the option for previously approved multi-unit residential and commercial uses.
- November 9, City Council: the annexation and development agreement for that same roughly 125 acres.
- November 16: a special use permit for a public transit facility on a 35-acre site at 855 and 900 W. Dresser Road, between Normal Road and N. Annie Glidden Road. An earlier July 2026 hearing on it was tabled.
Costs that change with growth
DeKalb development shows up on bills, too. In April 2026 the Council approved Ordinance 2026-015, raising the water rate 3.5%, from $4.53 to $4.69 per 100 cubic feet, starting with the July 1 bill cycle.
City staff estimated the average monthly bill for 8 units of water, about 6,000 gallons, would go from $43.97 to $45.52. That’s small, but it’s worth knowing before you compare a City of DeKalb home with one on a private well.
The same IDOT presentation says DeKalb’s equalized assessed value grew from $592 million in 2019 to $1.4 billion in 2026. A bigger tax base can help, but your bill still depends on every taxing body on your parcel, so check the county’s property tax levies and rates before you budget.
How to check a DeKalb address against nearby projects
You don’t need to read every ordinance to follow DeKalb development. These five steps take about an hour and catch most surprises.
- Find the address on the City’s list. Open the Zoning and Development Projects list and note any project within a mile or two of the home.
- Confirm city or county. Several projects above started on unincorporated land, so ask whether the home is inside city limits, because that decides whose zoning, water, and permits apply.
- Map the truck and power routes. Note where Peace Road, Fairview Drive, Route 23, Keslinger Road, and Crego Road sit relative to the home, and where the KARE line is planned.
- Read the hearing notices. Legal notices on the public hearings page list the date, acreage, and request, and you can send written comments before a hearing.
- Budget with real numbers. Use the latest tax bill and the current water rate, not a listing estimate or a guess.
If you’re weighing DeKalb against the town next door, our Sycamore page is a good starting point, and you can browse current DeKalb homes for sale while you watch these projects move.
DeKalb development questions buyers ask
Is DeKalb getting a Metra station?
Where are the data centers in DeKalb?
Are new homes being built in DeKalb?
How do I choose a real estate agent in DeKalb, IL?
DeKalb development is much easier to understand before you’re under contract than after. If you’re starting to look at homes in DeKalb, Sycamore, or anywhere in the Fox Valley, I’m happy to walk through the projects and hearing dates around any house you’re considering, with no pressure and on your timeline. Call or text Kealan at 630-425-8815.
About Kealan O’Neil
Kealan O’Neil is the Designated Managing Broker and founder of O’Neil Property Group, an independent real estate brokerage based in Yorkville, Illinois. He and his team help buyers and sellers in Yorkville, Oswego, Montgomery, and the surrounding Kendall and Kane County communities, and he owns and manages a local rental portfolio, so he approaches every decision as both a broker and an investor. Call or text Kealan at 630-425-8815.
This post is general information about real estate in the Fox Valley, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Real estate laws, tax rules, and municipal ordinances change, and how they apply depends on your specific situation. Talk with a licensed attorney, CPA, or lender before making decisions about a purchase, sale, or tax matter. O’Neil Property Group is a licensed Illinois real estate brokerage.