The Keefer House Hotel in downtown Hillsdale. Gemma Flores | Collegian 

CL Real Estate Development has hired a new general contractor, Global Builders, to complete the Keefer House Hotel Project in downtown Hillsdale. 

In a Feb. 26 letter to City Manager David Mackie, CLRED President Steven Hussey announced his company would no longer use Phoenix Builders as the general contractor for the project, which is scheduled to be completed June 30, 2026. The development firm is planning to work with Global Builders to finish the hotel’s construction. 

“This letter is to inform City Council that, effective at the close of business on February 25th, 2026, CLRED ended the construction contract with Phoenix Builders, the General Contractor for The Keefer House Hotel redevelopment project,” Hussey wrote in the letter. 

CLRED, a group estate development firm based in LaSalle, Illinois, has been working on the Keefer since it purchased the building in 2018. The group aims to convert the historic Keefer building into a boutique hotel. The project’s deadline has been extended six times since demolition began in 2021. 

CLRED wanted to hire Global Builders quickly to keep the project running smoothly, according to Hussey’s letter. 

“Our team is working diligently to engage Global Builders to complete the remaining construction on the hotel and fulfill our vision for the finished project which will have an extremely positive impact on downtown Hillsdale and the surrounding community,” Hussey wrote. 

Ward 4 Councilman Robert Socha said the Keefer House Hotel will play an important role in the development of downtown Hillsdale. 

“I think the Keefer House Hotel is a catalyst for a renaissance in downtown Hillsdale,” Socha said. “I think this project has been plagued with a lot of difficulty, but CL Real Estate has been seeing it through and will see it through to completion. I look forward to its grand opening, hopefully later this year.”

According to Socha, representatives from CLRED plan to attend the March 16 city council meeting to discuss next steps. 

Ward 4 Councilman Joshua Paladino said he is happy to hear progress is being made on the project. 

“The last time I went into the Keefer Hotel, crews were laying flooring and tiling, installing bathroom fixtures, putting up drywall, and painting,” Paladino said. “I’m glad to hear that CLRED quickly found a new general contractor.”