SDA Eyes Schaumburg-Scale Growth With 241-Acre University Park Development
The SDA envisions transforming 241 acres in University Park into a major development opportunity, leveraging the community's proximity to Interstate 57 and Governors State University.
Today, it is an unassuming stretch of land in University Park.
The Southland Development Authority (SDA) sees something much bigger.
With Interstate 57 running through the community and Governors State University serving as an anchor, the SDA believes University Park has the ingredients to support development on a scale far beyond its current population of about 7,000.
And the vision is ambitious.
SDA CEO Bo Kemp points to Schaumburg, a community of around 70,000 residents, as an example of that potential. Through Project Bloom, the organization is working to prepare 241 acres in University Park for long-term development expected to attract at least $250 million in investment.
“Given the infrastructure and the anchor tenant of Governors State, University Park should look more like Schaumburg,” Kemp said. “This investment is part of a long-term effort to move in that direction.”
Representatives gather in University Park for a 2025 community investment announcement. The SDA now anticipates at least $250 million in long-term investment through Project Bloom, a 241-acre development initiative.
The vision, according to Kemp, is modeled in part on the redevelopment of about 200 acres in Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood. There, years of work preparing land and infrastructure helped set the stage for large-scale private investment.
But first comes the work people rarely see. Engineering. Infrastructure. Permits. Incentives.
Project Bloom is moving through those steps now. Investment in horizontal development is intended to increase the value of the property and better position the 241 acres to attract future vertical development.
And one of the partnerships helping move that work forward started with a bus ride.
Samara Real Property's involvement in Project Bloom began with the SDA's 2024 bus tour, followed by further evaluation at ACHIEVE 2025 and a formalized partnership at ACHIEVE 2026.
Samara Real Property, a real estate development firm with a Chicago office and holdings in several U.S. markets, first visited Project Bloom during the SDA’s 2024 bus tour. The company came back for another look at the organization’s ACHIEVE Summit in 2025.
At ACHIEVE 2026, the partnership became official.
Initial engineering is underway, with municipal and state funding and approvals in process. CBRE has been marketing the property since February 2026.
Samara’s role leads several components of the development process. That includes civil engineering, site planning, utility design and commitments, floodplain management and coordination with CBRE. The SDA and First Mile Industrial Ventures are leading efforts related to annexation by University Park and securing local development approvals and incentives.
Samara’s involvement follows an earlier partnership investment from First Mile Industrial Ventures as Project Bloom moves further through the development process.
First Mile Industrial Ventures was founded by Michael Smith and focuses on real estate and infrastructure investment. Smith brings more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry.
Michael Smith, founder and managing member of First Mile Industrial Ventures, highlights the location, infrastructure and development potential of Southland Bloom, along with the SDA's role in preparing the property for private investment.
A $100,000 Nicor Illinois Community Investment (NICI) grant presented in University Park in July 2025 supported the SDA’s emerging Monarch Fund. The SDA now expects Project Bloom to attract at least $250 million in long-term investment to the community.
The partners are now actively pursuing a vertical development partner for the property.
Following completion of the entitlement process, the SDA and Samara may pursue additional horizontal infrastructure improvements at the site based on market demand. Under the proposed framework, Samara would take the lead on the design, financing and construction of that work.
CBRE is marketing the property to prospective development partners or end users as the SDA and its partners prepare the site for future development.
About the Southland Development Authority
The Southland Development Authority, a not-for-profit economic development organization, is committed to driving equitable and sustainable economic growth in the South Suburbs of Chicago. Through innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and impactful direct investments, the SDA is building a vibrant, inclusive economy that drives wealth growth for individuals, businesses, and municipalities. Combined with the benefits of the South Suburban Land Bank and the Monarch Fund, the SDA serves as a model for regional development.
