La Grange Residential Complex Planned; Developer Seeks Village's OK

LA GRANGE, IL – A developer wants to remove a downtown La Grange building and make way for a new 39-unit residential complex.

The site is at 112 E. Burlington Ave., where the Jackson Square antique mall is. The building is more than a century old.

In 2019, a proposal for a 39-unit complex in the same spot failed, with the village's zoning board voting it down 4-2.

In August, Dan Spain of Five South Six LLC applied to the village for zoning approvals. He is perhaps best known locally as the owner of The Elm restaurant.

The developer's records don't indicate whether the residential units will be condos or apartments. Patch left a message with Spain on Tuesday afternoon.

The renderings show a four-story building, but the application refers to five stories, likely including the basement.

The Plan Commission is set to review the proposal at its meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at Village Hall.

While not vacant, the current building has remained "largely static" and "underutilized" compared with the pace of surrounding development, Spain said in the application.

"As the Village becomes an increasingly desirable residential community, the current zoning has limited the property's potential to evolve with the neighborhood," Spain said.

The building would include no businesses. Like many towns, La Grange officials prefer ground-floor retail, which means sales tax income for the town.

"The village has experienced increased demand for centrally located, high-quality residential units, particularly those within walking distance of downtown amenities, public transit and local businesses," Spain said in the application.

In an email to Patch on Tuesday, Village Manager Jack Knight said residents were notified of the proposal by mail Sept. 22 and a notice was published in a local newspaper three days later.

Asked for a possible timeline on approval, Knight said, "It is not possible to predict how long the process of evaluating the proposal will take."

As for the Jackson Square mall, owner Therese O'Sullivan told Patch on Wednesday that she is looking for a new home to continue supporting micro-businesses.

"We have our eyes on a couple places, but we will announce our new location once the rezoning is complete," she said in a message. "We anticipate to stay here for at least another 6-18 months. Our goal is to make this move as smooth as possible. We’ve loved calling La Grange our home, and if we can stay in La Grange, that would be amazing, but if not, there are several other villages we have spoken with that are eager to welcome us with open arms."

In the last few years, Spain has become increasingly prominent in La Grange, often speaking about downtown issues.

In May, the Village Board approved Spain's plan for five short-term rental units on the second floor of the building at 108 W. Calendar Ave. He said he planned to call the rentals Treehouse Guest Suites.