About the Pillsbury Site

Current Status

UPDATE March 22, 2022:

Moving Pillsbury Forward (MPF) has acquired the 18-acre former Pillsbury Mills site. Read more here…

Pillsbury Project OverviewDownload

Moving Pillsbury Forward works with the Pillsbury Neighborhood Association and the City of Springfield to address safety and security issues at the site.

Abandoned Pillsbury Mills site in Springfield, IL - railroad grain dump area.
Abandoned former Pillsbury Mills site in Springfield, IL - southeast view.
Former Pillsbury Mills site in Springfield IL is dangerous, but fencing is breached in multiple places: the font gate with a large hole in the chain link gate..
Former Pillsbury Mills site in Springfield, IL - full front view.

Pillsbury Mills History in Springfield, IL

Pillsbury Mills opened the site in 1929.
Pillsbury opened in 1929.
Pillsbury Mills site - aerial view from 1950, when 1500 workers were employed there.
Pillsbury employed 1500 workers in 1950.
In 1991, Pillsbury sold the Plant to Cargill. Cargill operated the Plant from 1991 to 2001, before selling it for scrap in 2008.
In 1991, Pillsbury sold the Plant to Cargill. Cargill operated the Plant from 1991 to 2001, before selling it for scrap in 2008.
Graphic depicting Pillsbury Mills structures with demolished buildings identified in green.
Large portions of the Pillsbury Mill facility were “urban mined”.
The abandoned Pillsbury Mills plant underwent “urban mining” from 2008-2015.
The abandoned plant then underwent “urban mining” from 2008-2015.

History on Sangamon County Historical Society

Sangamon County Historical Society logo

The Pillsbury Mills page on the Sangamon County Historical Society website has an extensive history of the site and additional photographs.
Visit the site at SangamonCountyHistory.com.

Location and Maps

Address: 1525 E Phillips Ave., Springfield, IL, 62702

Springfield City Ward Map

The Pillsbury Mill is surrounded by 4 Springfield City Wards

Springfield City Ward Map
The Pillsbury Plant is surrounded by 4 Springfield Illinois City Wards

Click here to download the full Springfield City Ward Map PDF (10.4mb)

Opportunity Zone Map:

Pillsbury Plant Opportunity Zone Map:

Final Report for Mini-Charrette and Reuse Strategy Session Pillsbury Mills District Redevelopment Project

The 2005 Pillsbury Charrette is 14 years old and still contains useful information for the current situation. Nearly all of the strategic project recommendations still apply today. This is a great resource for the Moving Pillsbury Forward Project.

“Pursuant to the revisions requested by you and Heather NiFong to our December 12, 2005 Final Report, we are pleased to present to the Western Illinois Regional Council (“WIRC”) Bell, Boyd & Lloyd’s (“Bell Boyd”) Final Report for the Pillsbury Mills District site (the “Property”) redevelopment project (the “Project”). Beginning in July 2005, Bell Boyd worked closedly with WIRC, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (“IEPA”) and the Economic Development Council for Springfield and Sangamon County (“EDC”) to discuss ideas, strategies and challenges facing redevelopment of the Property. This effort resulted in a successful and well-attended mini-charrette and reuse strategy session that allowed various members of hte Springfield community to vet ideas and have a frank discussion regarding the potential for the redevelopment of the Property and the surrounding area (“Study Area”).”

Read the full Report (82 pages PDF, 60mb)Download

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