“Mega-development” doesn’t sound very park-like does it? Yet, the name Ivanhoe Park is tied to just such a large-scale project.
Welcome everyone. This is Ivanhoe Park. Well, the future site of it anyway. The story of this park begins not with swings and slides, but with strategic plans and community meetings.
Mundelein, Illinois, is set to be transformed. The proposed Ivanhoe Village mega-development is planned for construction on 772 acres. This is mostly farmland. The Wirtz family owns it. They also own the Chicago Blackhawks.
Imagine a space with housing, shops, and even athletic fields. There will also be pocket parks and a village center. Light industrial buildings will be here too. All this will mainly be south of Peterson Road and north of Route 60. A small part will be south of Route 60.
The development is planned to take over 25 years.
District 79 is preparing for big changes. The influx of new students will require facility expansion. The estimated cost is $107 million.
Ivanhoe Village is expected to add 1,011 new students to District 79. That is a 53% increase. The district is working to manage this growth. They want to minimize the impact on taxpayers.
The village and developer are in discussions. They are outlining details in a development agreement. Friction has surfaced. District 79 and Mundelein High School District 120 made their construction estimates public. The village offered a process to discuss needs with the developer.
The goal is to reach a fair agreement with the developers.
Property taxes should cover the cost of educating new students. The amount collected from Ivanhoe Village is expected to surpass operating costs.
A community-based steering committee is assessing current conditions. They are anticipating future needs. Public presentations have been held. A resident survey was commissioned.
Most survey respondents opposed increasing class sizes. They also did not want to decrease programs. 91% supported developers paying sufficient fees. These fees would support new building construction.
Districts 79 and 120 plan to meet with developers. They hope to get commitments to offset future growth costs. The intent is to limit what may be asked of taxpayers later.
The superintendent of districts 75 and 120 said the village’s impact fee structure invites collaboration.
Ivanhoe Park is more than just green space. It is part of a complex plan for the future. It is a future shaped by negotiations, community input, and the dreams of a growing village.