A new redevelopment plan for Calumet Country Club proposes making components for manufactured homes, youth sports complex. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown)

A factory to make components for manufactured homes, a youth sports complex and restaurants are part of the most recent proposal to redevelop the former Calumet Country Club near Homewood.

But the plan has area residents scratching their heads over the concept and say they will keep a wary eye on what might come next.

The 130-acre property, northwest of Dixie Highway and 175th Street, sits in unincorporated Cook County, with Homewood officials nearly a year ago allowing the owners to disconnect the property from the village.

Founded in 1901 and annexed to Homewood in 1980, the golf course had most recently been proposed as a site for up to 800,000 square feet of warehouse space. Homewood officials rejected the plan before agreeing to the disconnection.

A new redevelopment plan for Calumet Country Club proposes making components for manufactured homes, youth sports complex. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown)

Catalyst Consulting Group proposes a 200,000-square-foot “automated prefabricated housing facility” to produce doors and window for manufactured homes, according to a letter outlining its plans.

Indoor farming and potentially a hotel to accommodate visitors to the planned casino on the border of East Hazel Crest and Homewood are part of the company’s plans.

A youth sports complex, dog park, restaurants and possibly a bank and coffee shop are also part of the proposal, along with a facility to “train and prepare individuals for the anticipated” 1,000 permanent jobs the development would create, according to the letter from Catalyst to South Suburbs for Greenspace, a grassroots organization that sprung up in response to a proposed warehouse development.

A representative for Catalyst did not respond to a message seeking comment.

The letter to South Suburbs for Greenspace gives Catalyst’s address as the address of the country club, and there are no records on file with the Illinois secretary of state’s office showing incorporation information for the firm.

Plans for warehouse space provoked the ire of nearby residents concerned about truck traffic and potential loss of value to their homes, and South Suburbs for Greenspace is keeping an eye on the plan now being floated.

“The rails can come off,” said Liz Varmecky, the founder of South Suburbs for Greenspace. “There’s nothing holding them to do any of the things they are saying they will do.”

The Homewood resident said that the organization received the introductory letter from Catalyst, outlining its concept, in early March, but that “it’s all very vague” as far as specifics.

The letter from Catalyst notes that principals of the firm have been working over the past year to “structure a new and exciting development concept.”

To promote it, including contacting Varmecky’s group, Catalyst said in the letter it has been working vehemently to include all community residents, businesses, politicians, villages and organizations.

But the mayors of the villages that surround the property say they’ve not been approached with any plans by Catalyst or property owner Diversified Partners.

Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld said he is unaware of any updated development proposal, and Hazel Crest Mayor Vernard Alsberry said he had read something about the plan but that he and other elected officials have not been approached.

“I know they are talking about a multifaceted development with things like indoor farming and a hotel,” Alsberry said.

The country club, which advertises it will be open for golf this year, is surrounded on three sides by Hazel Crest, a potential partner in an annexation and redevelopment now that the property has been detached from neighboring Homewood.

“I’m watching this like you guys are,” Alsberry said of the latest incarnation of the site.

Arizona-based Diversified Partners paid $3.3 million in fall 2020 for the property, before Homewood turned down redevelopment plans.

Walt Brown Jr., Diversified’s chief executive, did not respond to a message seeking comment.

While in unincorporated Cook County, the property, in order to be redeveloped, would need to secure essential ingredients to make it work such as water and sewer, something that would come from a connection with a neighboring suburb.