A sprawling 5.47-acre parcel that once held one of Lake Villa's oldest schools could soon become a mix of apartments, shops and public gathering space, under preliminary plans now moving through village review. The proposal from JM Developers calls for 126 apartments, six townhouses and ground-floor retail along Route 83, reshaping the northwest corner of Grand Avenue and Route 83 that has sat without a permanent tenant since 2024.
The plans, still in early stages, include commercial and retail spaces along Route 83 with residential units stacked above them, according to the Daily Herald. Market-rate apartments would sit in three-story buildings, while the six townhouses are designed to serve as a transition toward the neighborhood's existing single-family homes. Village officials say they will weigh public feedback as the proposal advances through formal review and approval.
Lake Villa and JM Developers plan to present the concept at an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lehmann Mansion, 485 N. Milwaukee Ave., where residents can see renderings and ask questions directly. The project aims to transform the former Pleviak School property into what officials describe as a cohesive, walkable development with housing and retail woven together, per the same report.
A Century-Old Corner Looking for Its Next Chapter
The site's history stretches back more than a hundred years. The original Pleviak school building was constructed in 1910 and later received a gym addition starting in 1939, the Daily Herald reports. Lake Villa Elementary District 41 students last attended classes at Pleviak in 2014, when the school closed due to declining enrollment.
Separately, the Chicago Tribune has reported that the Joseph J. Pleviak Elementary School building at 304 E. Grand Avenue was built in 1910, while the Daily Herald's reporting states the original Pleviak building was demolished in 1979 — the two accounts describe building dates without confirming whether they refer to the same structure. After closing to District 41 students, the building was leased to Round Lake Unit District 116 for a kindergarten program until 2024, according to the Chicago Tribune, and it has lacked a full-time user since then.
How the Village Took Ownership
District 41 and Lake Villa reached an agreement in 2025 intended to transform the site and spur nearby redevelopment, with the district transferring the land and buildings to the village in exchange for 80% of eventual sale proceeds. Lake Villa is set to keep the remaining 20% to cover redevelopment costs such as environmental studies, the Daily Herald notes. The property has since been rezoned for central business district uses, clearing a path for the mixed-use concept now on the table.
That path wasn't guaranteed. An earlier effort to sell the property fell through when an interested developer backed out after the village declined to approve some of the proposed features, the Tribune reported last October. Lake Villa approved a memorandum of understanding with JM Developers in August, setting the stage for the current proposal.
Officials and Developer Weigh In
Village Administrator Michael Strong called the project an important opportunity for downtown investment and revitalization, adding that the village welcomes community feedback, according to the Daily Herald's report. Strong also said JM Developers values community engagement as the plans take shape.
JM Developers representative Crystal Rollins said the open house will help both the community and the development team learn more about the project, per the same account. Rollins described the goal as building a walkable destination featuring visitors, quality retail and dining, desirable housing, and a more connected downtown, while stressing the project remains in very preliminary stages of work with the village.
Bigger Connections, Bigger Plans
Beyond the Pleviak parcel itself, the project's planners envision improved connections linking downtown, the Metra station and Cedar Avenue. JM Developers has assembled a team specializing in design and architecture, economic development and real estate operations for the effort, the Daily Herald reports.
The firm is also pursuing separate approvals for a residential building at 209 Cedar Ave., less than a mile northwest of the Pleviak site — a project that could complement the broader downtown vision. JM Developers expects to bring a formal proposal to the village's plan commission and zoning board of appeals after Wednesday's open house, refining the concept based on feedback gathered from residents and village review.
