Old Mill Park

Old Mill Park is an active, growing 55+ condominium community in Sycamore, Illinois, developed by Communities by Grainger (Brian Grainger), a DeKalb County-based builder responsible for hundreds of homes across the county over two-plus decades. Tucked into the northeast corner of Route 23 and Mount Hunger Road about an hour west of Chicago, the community blends the charm of a historic small town with brand-new construction and a worry-free, maintenance-free lifestyle geared toward independent retirees. The community is being built in two phases. Phase 1, approved in 2016 and largely complete, delivered 48 multi-bedroom luxury condos in 12 four-unit buildings on the south side of Mount Hunger Road. Phase 2 — approved by the Sycamore City Council in October 2024 after extensive negotiation — adds 110 additional units across 21 residential buildings on 18.6 acres directly across the street, bringing the total community to 158 homes. Phase 2 introduces a wider mix of floor plans, including one-bedroom units around 1,100 sq ft (with an office and 1½ baths), two-bedroom condos, and four-unit buildings with the largest and most expensive footprints. Across the community, homes range from roughly 1,810 to 3,210 sq ft, and newer models feature all-brick exteriors, nine-foot ceilings, three-car garages, granite countertops, and resort-style master baths with large walk-in showers. The community is actively releasing new homes — a 2027 Spring Release is currently accepting reservations, meaning buyers can still get into brand-new construction. The heart of the community is the Old Mill Park Clubhouse at 39 Kloe Lane, which held a ribbon-cutting in May 2025. Amenities include an indoor pool, a workout/fitness room, multipurpose and meeting rooms, a gathering area, an outdoor sundeck, a botanical garden, and pickleball courts added with Phase 2. Walking and biking trails thread through the property, and the community is pet-friendly. A full-time activities director plans a regular social calendar including Bingo, Book Club, and Bunco, plus special-interest groups for residents who want to stay engaged. Location is one of Old Mill Park's quiet advantages. Sycamore is a historic small city known for its preserved 19th-century architecture — the Sycamore Historic District alone has over 200 vintage buildings — and a walkable downtown along State Street packed with cafes, taverns, bakeries, specialty shops, and the vintage Sycamore State Theater. Residents have quick access to the Sycamore Park District (sports fields, golf course, community center), Great Western Nature Trail, Russell Woods Forest Preserve, and Shabbona Lake State Park. Daily conveniences are close at hand: Northland Plaza, DeKalb Market Square, Hy-Vee, Aldi, Walgreens, CVS, and Lehan Drugs. Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital and Kindred Hospital Sycamore anchor healthcare nearby. Northern Illinois University sits roughly seven miles south in DeKalb, adding cultural programming, lectures, and sporting events to the mix. For bigger-city trips, downtown Chicago is just over an hour's drive and O'Hare International Airport is about 50 miles east. Property taxes in the community average around $10,209 per year — notable and worth factoring into any budget, as is typical for Illinois.