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Round Lake Beach announces theater redevelopment plans, new shopping‑center activity and free ESL classes
Summary
Economic Development Director Gil Rivera told the council the village issued a press release about a new vision for the Regal theater, developers bought several shopping‑center parcels and a free English‑as‑a‑second‑language class begins April 3 at the civic center.
Economic Development Director Gil Rivera reported March 17 that new development activity is moving forward in Round Lake Beach, including a vision for the local theater, a pending junior‑anchor retail plan at a recently sold shopping center parcel and new community classes at the civic center.
Rivera said the village issued a press release about “the new vision for the theater,” and that developers expect to have a plan this summer with construction to follow. He told the council new developers have bought properties that include the LA Fitness site and adjacent strip centers that previously housed Petco and Jersey Mike’s; the developers indicated they will submit site plans for a new junior anchor that would sit between the LA Fitness and the Regal theater site. Rivera said the developers did not disclose the prospective tenant.
Rivera also said a restaurant (referred to in the staff remarks as “Chihuahua”) is onboarding at a former Hallmark location, and he confirmed a community program update: free English‑as‑a‑second‑language classes run by Carmen Carbol will begin April 3 at the civic center, and a flyer is now available on the civic center website.
During public comment, Ricky Colon of the Cherokee Group asked the council about a park light and neighborhood‑watch signs and said residents plan a neighborhood cleanup. Mayor Nichols and Director Fritz said they would coordinate with ComEd and the park district to evaluate lighting adjustments, discuss available neighborhood‑watch signage, and consider supplying cleanup bags with public‑works pickup after the event.
Rivera characterized the development activity as encouraging for the village, saying it “sets off another and another and another” and the village is “greatly happy that we’re seeing this kind of development coming into our community.”
Council members did not vote on zoning or land‑use approvals at the March 17 meeting; Rivera said site plans are expected from the private developer in coming weeks.
