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The Grid At Route 31: 7 Shocking Facts About The Massive 4 Million SF Industrial Park At 325 State Route 31, Montgomery, IL

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The address 325 State Route 31 in Montgomery, Illinois, is no longer just a dot on the map; it represents one of the most ambitious and large-scale industrial revitalization projects in the entire Chicago Metropolitan Area. As of late 2025, this sprawling 350-acre site, now officially branded as "The Grid at Route 31," has been completely transformed from a single-user manufacturing facility into a dynamic, multi-tenant industrial park, attracting significant investment and new jobs to the Fox River Valley region.

The sheer scale of the property and the complexity of its redevelopment by Reich Brothers, LLC have made it a cornerstone of the Village of Montgomery’s economic development strategy. The story of this address is a fascinating case study in commercial real estate, demonstrating how heavy infrastructure and strategic investment can breathe new life into a vast, dormant industrial campus.

The Transformation: From Caterpillar's Legacy to 'The Grid'

The history of the property at 325 State Route 31 is inextricably linked to the global machinery giant, Caterpillar Inc. For decades, the massive facility served as a critical manufacturing hub for the company, employing thousands of local residents and solidifying the region's reputation as an industrial powerhouse. The property's closure, which was part of a broader corporate restructuring and production line shutdown expected by the end of 2018, left a significant void in the local economy and an enormous, specialized real estate challenge.

The site remained a focal point of local concern until the Reich Brothers—a White Plains, New York-based commercial real estate investment firm—stepped in. In March 2020, they officially acquired the four-million-square-foot former Caterpillar Plant. Recognizing the unique value of the site's existing infrastructure, they embarked on a multi-million-dollar project to reposition the property as a premier, flexible-use industrial campus, rebranding it as "The Grid at Route 31."

The redevelopment plan involved a complete overhaul of the campus, including the repurposing and renovation of the nine primary buildings on the site. This massive undertaking was crucial to making the specialized heavy manufacturing space adaptable for a wider variety of modern industrial users, from logistics and distribution to high-tech production.

1. Unprecedented Scale: A 4-Million-Square-Foot Industrial Megaplex

The sheer size of The Grid is its most defining characteristic. The campus encompasses approximately 350 to 360 acres of land and features nearly 4 million square feet (SF) of industrial, manufacturing, and warehouse space. To put that into perspective, the total square footage is equivalent to over 69 football fields.

The space is highly flexible, marketed by leading commercial real estate firms like CBRE and Cushman & Wakefield. While the total available space is massive, the developers have successfully executed a strategy of divisibility, offering units as small as 200,000 SF to accommodate a range of tenant sizes. This flexibility is key to attracting a diverse business base, a strategy that moves away from the single-tenant model of the past.

2. The Power of Heavy Infrastructure and the Co-Gen Facility

What truly sets 325 State Route 31 apart from typical industrial parks is its robust, heavy-duty infrastructure, a direct legacy of the Caterpillar operation. This is a massive draw for companies with high utility and logistical demands.

  • On-Site Power Generation: The Grid features a critical on-site Co-Gen facility (Cogeneration), which allows tenants to generate both electricity and heat simultaneously, offering a significant advantage in energy efficiency and cost control.
  • Heavy Utility Capacity: The property boasts enormous power drops and heavy utility infrastructure, capable of supporting some of the most power-intensive manufacturing operations in the country.
  • Water and Fire Suppression: A 300,000-gallon water tank is on-site, providing superior water capacity for industrial processes and ensuring robust fire suppression capabilities across the entire campus.
  • Cranes and Concrete: The buildings contain numerous heavy-duty cranes and feature substantial concrete pads, engineered to handle extremely heavy machinery and equipment.

3. Rail Service: The BNSF Advantage for Global Logistics

For large-scale logistics and heavy industrial operations, access to rail transport is non-negotiable. The Grid is strategically positioned with a dedicated BNSF rail spur and track, providing direct access to one of North America's largest freight rail networks. This feature is a major selling point for distribution and manufacturing companies, offering a capacity of up to 6,000 annual rail cars.

This rail access, combined with the property's proximity to major interstate highways in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, establishes The Grid as a premier intermodal logistics hub, connecting tenants to national and international supply chains.

4. Key Tenants Driving Local Economic Growth

The redevelopment has successfully attracted several high-profile tenants, validating the Reich Brothers' vision and providing a significant economic boost to the Village of Montgomery. These companies represent a diverse cross-section of the industrial sector:

  • Ryerson: A major metals distributor and processor, Ryerson utilizes a portion of the space for its specialized stainless steel processing operations, including cut-to-length and gauge/plate lines.
  • UGL Holding: This company operates a logistics and truck center on the property, providing cost-effective logistics solutions and vehicle services, highlighting the site's role as a transportation hub.
  • Tangent Technologies Llc: A company involved in plastics material and resin manufacturing, its presence underscores the site's suitability for specialized production processes.

The influx of these new businesses, along with others, has led to numerous job creation opportunities, directly impacting the local workforce and enhancing the area's tax base.

5. The Village of Montgomery's Proactive Revitalization Strategy

The Village of Montgomery has played a critical, proactive role in the revitalization of 325 State Route 31. Recognizing the potential economic impact, the Village leveraged tools like the TIF Act (Tax Increment Financing) to induce the complete repurposing and renovation of the campus. This partnership was essential in overcoming the challenges associated with redeveloping such a massive, specialized property.

The site's flexible zoning, a Planned Unit Development (PUD), allows for a wider range of uses than traditional industrial zoning, further enhancing its appeal to diverse businesses. The Village's commitment is a testament to the importance of the project, which is frequently highlighted in local news and by organizations like World Business Chicago for its positive economic impact.

6. The Strategic Location on State Route 31

While the internal features are impressive, the location itself is a primary asset. State Route 31 is a major north-south artery in Illinois, running parallel to the Fox River and offering direct, high-traffic access. The Montgomery location is positioned advantageously within the broader Aurora, IL and Chicago suburban industrial market.

The site is not just a local hub; its proximity to the greater Chicago area provides access to a vast labor pool, major distribution networks, and a dense consumer market. This strategic positioning is a key factor in the long-term success and continued leasing of the industrial park.

7. A Model for Industrial Repurposing in the 21st Century

The evolution of 325 State Route 31 into The Grid at Route 31 serves as a national model for industrial real estate redevelopment. It demonstrates that massive, single-user legacy sites, even those with specialized infrastructure, can be successfully repurposed to meet the demands of modern multi-tenant industrial users. The project has not only preserved the site's industrial heritage but has also future-proofed it, ensuring the property remains a vital economic engine for Kendall County and the entire state of Illinois for decades to come.

The continued success of The Grid is a clear indicator of the strength of the industrial market and the value of heavy, specialized infrastructure in an era where logistics, manufacturing, and supply chain robustness are paramount.

The Grid at Route 31: 7 Shocking Facts About the Massive 4 Million SF Industrial Park at 325 State Route 31, Montgomery, IL
325 state route 31 montgomery il
325 state route 31 montgomery il

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