Officials Want Lake Villa School Building Site Redeveloped: ‘turn A Dormant Site Into A Vibrant, Active Space’

A now-vacant Lake Villa school building that has stood for more than a century will more than likely be demolished, and village and school officials hope the site will be redeveloped to boost the local economy.

The Joseph J. Pleviak Elementary School, which was built in 1910, along with several nearby parcels of land at the northwest corner of Milwaukee and Grand Avenue, has been transferred to the village by Lake Villa School District 41.

By marketing the site on behalf of the school district, the village can make sure developers meet qualifications that match its long-term comprehensive plan, Village Administrator Michael Strong said.

With the acquisition of the properties at 304 E. Grand Avenue, the village plans to pursue development that creates a more walkable and connected community, and sets the stage for “transformational” projects that can breathe new life into the downtown core business district, Strong said.

Being considered are mixed-use structures, such as commercial with residential. A gas station and entirely residential projects have been ruled out, officials said.

“This partnership is a great example of how intergovernmental cooperation can lead to better outcomes for our residents, and reflects our shared commitment to building a stronger future for Lake Villa,” Lake Villa Mayor James McDonald said. “By working together with the school district, we are making it possible to turn a dormant site into a vibrant, active space that contributes to our downtown economy, provides new amenities and enhances the quality of life for our residents.”

At a May farewell event at Pleviak Elementary School in Lake Villa, previous school community members reconnected and paid tribute to the 105-year-old building that will most likely be demolished for redevelopment. (Lake Villa Elementary School District 41)

Adding that the site has always been identified as important, McDonald said  “the two-state-highway corner (of Routes 83 and 132) is the gateway to our downtown.”

Previously, D41 tried to sell the property, but that sale fell through when the interested developer backed out after the village didn’t approve some of the proposed features, school board President Michael Conway said.

Since school districts have limitations on how to dispose of property but transferring to a government entity is allowed, Conway said it made sense to work with the village.

“The goal is to get the best possible outcome for the benefit of our community as a whole,” Conway said.

From the sales, the school district will receive 80%, and 20% will be retained by the village to cover redevelopment expenses, such as environmental studies, legal fees, marketing and planning efforts, officials said.

The village is encouraging residents to stay engaged and visit the lakevilla.org website continuously, as it will be asking that the public share ideas and input for the shaping of their downtown area once they’ve identified a developer.

The landmark building was originally named Central School. It became Joseph J. Pleviak in 1973, in honor of a former math and history teacher.

According to Lake Villa Historical Society records, the school was constructed as a two-story brick building with a library and four classrooms.

Conway said that in 2014, the school closed its doors due to a decline in enrollment. The building was then leased to Round Lake Unit District 116 for a kindergarten program that ran through the 2023-24 school year.

In May, the school district hosted a farewell event — called “A Walk Down Memory Lane” — at the building. It invited previous students, parents and staff to reconnect and celebrate its history.

Village officials said no matter what gets redeveloped there, there will be some recognition that the school once stood there.