The Rise, Fall, of Lisle’s Family Square Plaza
- Jake Kilts
- Mar 24
- 21 min read
Introduction
At the southeast corner of Ogden Avenue and Main Street in Lisle, Illinois, the former Family Square Plaza, a once-bustling community shopping hub now frozen in time. Family Square’s fate has become more than a real estate tale; it’s a local saga of high hopes, prolonged decline, and a community eager for answers. In this investigative look, we delve into the history of Family Square – its optimistic beginnings in the Ogden Avenue corridor, its heyday as a neighborhood staple, the slow decline into vacancy, and the ongoing efforts to reimagine its future. It’s a story that spans decades, reflecting broader economic shifts and the enduring spirit of a village determined to revitalize what was once a proud landmark.
Above: An aerial view of the long-vacant Family Square Plaza at Main & Ogden in Lisle, as seen in late 2024. The boarded-up strip mall occupies a prime corner in the village’s downtown corridor.
Historical Background
In the mid-1960s, Lisle was a small but growing suburb, and local leaders saw the need for a family-oriented shopping center. In 1965, a local developer acquired a 4-acre tract of land known as the “Peony Patch” at Main Street and Ogden Avenue, then a field where residents picked flowers. Within days of the sale, bulldozers arrived and foundations were laid for a new strip mall anchored by a supermarket – marking the birth of Family Square. The first cornerstone business was an A&P grocery store, a national chain that provided much-needed food shopping for Lisle’s burgeoning population. The plaza’s layout featured a one-story L-shaped building wrapping around a parking lot, with the A&P occupying the largest space and smaller storefronts lining the sides. From the start, Family Square was envisioned as a convenient “one-stop” retail center where local families could buy groceries, hardware, and everyday necessities without trekking to neighboring towns.
As the doors opened in the late 1960s, Family Square quickly filled with a mix of tenants catering to the community’s needs. A local pharmacy and gift shop opened next to the A&P – longtime residents recall a boutique called “Somethin’ Special” whose sign was visible on the plaza’s east end. A small hardware store and a dry cleaner reportedly joined the lineup in the early years, and a family-style diner would later occupy the southern end of the center. The brick façade and traditional storefront awnings gave Family Square a classic mid-century look; it was a modest strip mall, but it represented progress for Lisle. At a time when the nearest major shopping was in downtown Naperville or Downers Grove, Family Square provided a community gathering place and retail anchor right in Lisle’s backyard.
A 1965 Lisle Advertiser clipping announces the plan to transform the beloved “Peony Patch” at Main & Ogden into a shopping center
. Within a year, the new Family Square plaza – anchored by an A&P supermarket – would be under construction.)
Success and Peak Era
By the 1970s and early 1980s, Family Square Plaza was thriving, in step with Lisle’s own growth. The A&P supermarket drew steady crowds for years, making the plaza a routine stop for local households. Longtime residents have fond memories of the plaza during this era – from kids buying candy at the drugstore to families meeting up at the diner on Saturday mornings. The parking lot even doubled as a community venue at times: in the late 1970s, Lisle’s annual summer carnival was held on the expansive A&P lot at Ogden and Main, a testament to how central the plaza had become in village life. “It was the kind of place where you inevitably ran into neighbors in the aisles or at the checkout,” one former patron recalls. Family Square wasn’t just a commercial center; it was part of the social fabric of Lisle.
Several economic and demographic trends underpinned the plaza’s success. Lisle’s population was climbing rapidly in the ’70s, and new subdivisions were springing up nearby. Ogden Avenue was solidifying its role as a major commercial corridor, funnelling traffic right past the plaza’s entrance. Family Square benefited from being on this well-traveled route (US 34) while still connected to the village’s Main Street. Moreover, competition was sparse in the immediate vicinity – before the advent of big-box retailers, a local strip mall with a grocery and hardware store could flourish. The plaza’s tenant mix evolved to reflect the times. When A&P began closing its Chicago-area stores around the early 1980s, the large grocery space at Family Square was soon repurposed rather than left empty. A locally owned hardware and home supply center took over the anchor spot, ensuring the plaza remained an everyday destination. Over the years, that hardware store went by many names – Home Hardware, Zee’s Home Center, Bruce’s Ace Hardware, and others – but it continued the legacy of a friendly neighborhood shop where personalized service was the draw. Meanwhile, smaller units hosted mom-and-pop businesses. Residents from the ’80s recall a video rental shop during the VHS boom and a dance studio for local youth. Dining options at Family Square also had their heyday; the plaza’s corner restaurant (predecessor to later chains) was once a popular breakfast joint known for its omelets and late-night coffee – an Omega Restaurant that locals still reminisce about. During this peak era, Family Square fulfilled its original mission: a convenient, community-centered marketplace where “everyone knew your name,” embodying the small-town charm that Lisle prided itself on.
Decline and Abandonment
Family Square’s fortunes began to shift by the 1990s and accelerated into the 2000s, mirroring broader changes in the retail landscape. The first cracks appeared when larger competitors moved into the area – modern supermarkets and big-box stores in neighboring towns siphoned off customers. Longtime hardware proprietor Bill Weldon, who worked in the plaza for 30 years, saw the writing on the wall: “The economy, competition with big box businesses and a roadway structure that makes it difficult for customers…to access [the] parking lot” all hurt the plaza’s traffic in its later years, Weldon said in 2014. Ogden Avenue’s heavy flow, while an asset in the early days, became a challenge as road expansions added medians preventing easy left turns. Shoppers driving southbound found it inconvenient to reach Family Square’s entrance, especially with newer retail centers offering ample access and parking. One by one, Family Square’s tenants began to disappear. The cozy gift shop closed its doors, unable to compete with chain retailers. The beloved diner on the plaza’s south end went dark (its restaurant space had been vacant “for several years” by 2014). Even as Lisle enhanced its downtown streetscape a half-mile away, the Ogden corridor plaza felt increasingly dated – its brick walls faded, its signage aging, and more storefronts papered over.
The Great Recession of 2008 dealt a heavy blow. By the early 2010s, Family Square was only a shadow of its former self, with large sections empty and visibly deteriorating. In 2012, the property’s owner fell into financial distress, and the plaza went into foreclosure. Oxford Bank & Trust took possession of the plaza that year, making Family Square a bank-owned property from 2012 onward. The bank kept a few remaining businesses on month-to-month leases, but it was clear their goal was to eventually clear the site for redevelopment. Weldon’s Hardware Supply – the last major holdout and a direct descendent of the original A&P space – hung on until mid-2014 before finally deciding to close up shop. Faced with expiring leases and uncertainty, Bill Weldon cited the difficulty of making a long-term commitment when the landlord (Oxford Bank) was eager to “develop the property” and only offering unattractive terms. When Weldon’s closed on June 30, 2014, Family Square effectively died as a retail center. The lights went out, and the windows were boarded soon after, leaving an eerily empty shell at one of Lisle’s busiest intersections.
Over the next few years, the plaza slid further into decay. Weeds sprouted through cracks in the asphalt. A once-bright “Family Square” roadside marquee, now empty of tenant names, rusted in the elements. Passersby saw only padlocked doors and fading lettering from past businesses on the building’s façade. By 2015, chain-link fencing encircled parts of the lot, and “No Trespassing” signs appeared – a stark declaration that this was now a derelict property. Tax records and maintenance became a point of contention: as a bank-owned site, Family Square generated little property tax growth, and minimal upkeep meant the burden of an eyesore fell on the community. “There is concern among village officials about the lack of development at Family Square,” Lisle’s Village Manager said as early as 2014, noting the visibly blighted condition of the mall. Photos from the late 2010s show warped plywood over broken windows and weather-beaten signs warning that unauthorized vehicles would be towed at the owner’s expense – one such sign, graffitied and leaning, became an unintended symbol of the plaza’s neglect.
(Above: A decaying parking sign and boarded-up entrance at Family Square Plaza, photographed in 2024
. The once-busy Lisle shopping center has been shuttered and fenced off since the mid-2010s, with weeds and warning notices now defining the landscape.)
Government and Community Response
As Family Square slipped into decline, Lisle’s local government and residents grew increasingly concerned – and proactive. The village recognized that this prominent corner, now an eyesore, needed intervention to spur redevelopment. In 2014, even before the hardware store closed, the Lisle Village Board engaged a consulting firm (Kane, McKenna and Associates) to explore economic development tools for the Ogden/Main area. By the following year, Lisle took a decisive step: in 2015 the Village established a Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district encompassing Family Square Plaza and several adjacent properties. The TIF designation was essentially a redevelopment war chest – it froze the property’s tax base and allowed future increases in tax revenue to be reinvested in improvements. Officials hoped this incentive would attract a developer to purchase and revitalize the site, which had now sat largely vacant for years. “Our village board is very interested in promoting economic development downtown,” the village manager emphasized, underscoring that doing nothing was not an option.
In parallel, the community’s voice grew louder. At public meetings and workshops, Lisle residents repeatedly inquired about the fate of Family Square. Many had emotional ties to the old plaza and hated seeing it boarded up, dragging down the charm of the village. Public planning sessions were convened as part of a new Downtown Master Plan process, where residents could share their ideas for the corridor. A series of design charrettes was held in late 2021 specifically about Family Square’s redevelopment – including virtual and in-person forums on October 28, 2021, where Lisle residents gave input directly to prospective developers. Ideas ranged from parks and community spaces to modern retail concepts, but a common theme was clear: the village wanted something to happen, and soon.
Elected officials also made Family Square a top agenda item. By 2022, after years of behind-the-scenes talks, Lisle’s trustees were presented with an actual redevelopment proposal (backed by the TIF incentives). In a special meeting on Jan. 31, 2022, the Village Board voted 4–2 to approve an economic incentive agreement to help finance a mixed-use project on the “long-vacant property at Ogden and Main”. Notably, Mayor Chris Pecak was absent from that meeting; he had been a vocal skeptic of using nearly $10.5 million in TIF funds for a private development. True to his word, Pecak vetoed the incentive plan a week later, citing his “fiduciary responsibility to…veto a hasty $10.5 million incentive agreement” and concerns that the project wasn’t the right fit. This set up a rare political clash in normally quiet Lisle. Just weeks later, the Village Board overrode the mayor’s veto, reflecting a majority view that letting the opportunity slip away would be worse. Trustee Mary Jo Mullen, among others, argued that the proposal aligned with the village’s long-term downtown plan calling for mixed-use development in that area.
Throughout 2022 and 2023, the Village provided regular updates to the public on the project’s status. Town hall discussions, Planning & Zoning Commission hearings, and board meetings often featured Family Square on the agenda – or in the public comment portion, where residents would ask pointedly, “What’s the latest on the old mall?” By late 2023 and into 2024, frustration was mounting again as visible progress remained elusive (the site still sat untouched). In one October 2024 board meeting, several residents spoke up to demand greater transparency on Family Square’s redevelopment, noting that months had passed without public updates and that “citizens are left in the dark”. The issue even spilled into local politics: in the 2025 municipal election campaign, both mayoral candidates made Family Square’s future a central talking point. “A strip mall at the entrance to downtown Lisle continues to sit vacant after a long-discussed redevelopment failed to materialize,” the Daily Herald reported, outlining how challengers and the incumbent sparred over who had the better plan to revive the site. Clearly, Family Square had become more than a derelict lot – it was now a litmus test for Lisle’s commitment to smart growth and for leaders’ responsiveness to community concerns.
Behind the scenes, the property’s status was complicated by its ownership. The site remained in the hands of the bank (Oxford Bank, later acquired by GreenState Credit Union), which was not in the business of property development itself. For years, the bank had not formally listed the property for sale, instead working with one preferred developer at a time under exclusive agreements. Some trustees grew impatient with this closed-off approach. In late 2024, after a second development deal fell through, Mayor Pecak directed village staff to reach out to GreenState Credit Union about opening the site to new bidders. By March 2025, GreenState finally engaged a commercial broker (CBRE) to actively market Family Square Plaza for sale – a move many felt was long overdue. The Lisle community, through formal channels and grassroots pressure, had effectively pushed all parties toward a fresh start on finding the right solution for Family Square.
Attempts at Development
Over the past decade, Lisle has seen multiple proposals to redevelop Family Square, each with its own promise and pitfalls. The most significant attempt began in 2021, when Indianapolis-based developer Flaherty & Collins Properties entered into negotiations with the site’s owner. By early 2022, Flaherty & Collins had a bold vision on the table: they proposed to demolish the shuttered strip mall entirely and construct a large mixed-use complex in its place. The plan, initially dubbed “The Lisle”, called for a 198-unit apartment building (later slightly adjusted to around 176–192 units in revised plans) wrapped around a parking garage, with approximately 23,000–24,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space for restaurants and shops. It was an ambitious, dense development meant to create a new residential customer base steps from downtown, while also extending the downtown business district along Ogden. Given the site’s challenges, the project relied on significant public support: Lisle’s board agreed to provide up to $10.5 million in TIF funds to help with land acquisition and construction costs. With approvals in hand by mid-2022 (after the board’s veto override drama), it seemed Family Square’s reinvention was imminent.
For a while, cautious optimism took hold. The developer held community meetings and design workshops, showcasing renderings of modern apartments and streetscape-friendly retail. The plan included amenities like a courtyard and even a few “live/work” artist loft units to add character. But as 2023 rolled on, delays began to mount. Flaherty & Collins struggled to finalize financing and did not meet an initial deadline to close on the property. The village granted extensions – including one in May 2023 requiring the developer to finalize purchase by June 30, 2024 – but by late summer 2024, time was up. On August 30, 2024, Flaherty’s team sent a letter to Village Hall effectively withdrawing. They cited difficulties with the requirement for retail space on multiple sides of the building, calling the ground-floor commercial component an “obstacle” in securing lenders. The redevelopment agreement automatically terminated that day when proof of financing failed to materialize. “I am personally saddened to be writing this letter and wish Lisle nothing but the best possible outcome for its downtown,” wrote Julie Collier, the developer’s vice president. After roughly two and a half years of effort, the deal was dead – and Family Square remained as it was, boarded-up and untouched.
In an unexpected twist, a second developer quickly emerged with interest. Within weeks of the Flaherty plan’s collapse, in October 2024 Chicago-based Synergy Construction and Development put in an offer to buy Family Square. Synergy’s concept was also a mixed-use development with residential, retail, and public parking – seemingly similar in scope, though details were not formally made public. Hopes rose again briefly, but by early December 2024 Synergy, too, pulled out of negotiations. “This site is a little too tight to accomplish all those goals…We just don’t see a path for this,” Synergy’s principal Phil Domenico told village officials after studying the lot. The combination of required elements on a small parcel – multifamily housing, retail space, parking, stormwater management – made it infeasible in Synergy’s view. In just six weeks, Lisle’s second chance had evaporated. The plaza’s owner, GreenState Credit Union, confirmed it had received a few other informal inquiries as well, but nothing concrete materialized at that time.
By the start of 2025, the situation was at a crossroads. The village had expended years on one large-scale apartment project that never broke ground. With Synergy’s exit, some officials – notably Mayor Pecak – began advocating for a different approach, perhaps involving multiple developers or a less dense concept. The bank’s decision to openly list the property for sale in early 2025 meant new proposals could finally come forward competitively. One such new vision was introduced by Bridge Street Properties in January 2025, though notably this plan focused on parcels adjacent to Family Square rather than the strip mall lot itself. Bridge Street proposed building 56 townhouse units along nearby Center Avenue, plus a separate 30-unit apartment building and open green spaces, with a half-acre left for future commercial development along Ogden. This development, while not on the Family Square property, is directly east of it and could reshape the immediate neighborhood. Bridge Street’s representatives framed it as complementary: “When that Family Square property ultimately develops…this project will help support and encourage it,” their attorney Russ Whitaker said, suggesting that a show of confidence (and a $30+ million investment) next door could spur action on the stubborn strip mall. In essence, the Bridge Street plan “flanks” Family Square with new homes and reserves a slice of land facing Ogden for the kind of retail or restaurant use that might one day tie into a redeveloped Family Square site.
Today, Lisle’s leaders are keeping all options on the table. There is talk of breaking the site into smaller pieces or courting a less intensive commercial project that could be built more easily. Yet some officials still favor a transformative mixed-use approach if the right partner comes along. “It’s a fully functioning mall – it can be brought back to life,” insisted one trustee in 2024, arguing that even the existing building could be reutilized by new retailers. Others strongly disagree, pointing to the many failed efforts as evidence that the old mall structure has outlived its usefulness. As the village reviews fresh proposals in 2025, one thing is clear: redeveloping Family Square has proven to be a marathon, not a sprint. Each attempt has taught lessons about what might or might not work, and those lessons are guiding the next steps in this protracted saga.
Timeline: Key Milestones of Family Square Plaza
1965 – “Peony Patch” Sold: A 4-acre flower field at Main & Ogden is optioned for development. Developer Barry Crawley announces plans to build a shopping center, marking the birth of Family Square. Construction of a new A&P grocery store begins within the year.
1966–1967 – Grand Opening: Family Square Shopping Center opens, anchored by the A&P Supermarket. Early tenants include a drugstore and a gift shop. The plaza quickly becomes a go-to retail hub for Lisle’s growing population.
1970s – Heyday: The plaza thrives as Lisle expands. The annual Lisle Carnival is even held on the A&P parking lot during this era. New businesses like a hardware store, boutique shops, and a family diner fill out the center.
Early 1980s – Changing of the Guard: A&P closes amid the chain’s regional pullback. The large grocery space is taken over by Home Hardware, later Bruce’s Ace Hardware, keeping the plaza alive as a hardware/home goods center. Family Square is renamed and refreshed, and remains busy through the mid-1980s.
1990s – Onset of Decline: Big-box retailers (Home Depot, Jewel-Osco, etc.) in nearby towns increase competition. Traffic changes on Ogden make access trickier. Some smaller shops close. The plaza shows first signs of aging, though the hardware store and a few stalwarts hang on.
2000s – Retail Shifts: The rise of e-commerce and further retail consolidation hit Family Square hard. The center loses more tenants; its south-end family restaurant closes (space goes vacant). By 2008–2010, the plaza is half-empty and struggling to attract new businesses.
2012 – Foreclosure: The property’s owner defaults, and Oxford Bank forecloses on Family Square, acquiring it in a bank takeover. The plaza becomes bank-owned, signaling an intent to eventually sell or redevelop.
2014 – Last Tenant Departs: Weldon’s Hardware, the successor to the old A&P, closes after nearly 50 years of continuous operation in that space. With its anchor gone, Family Square is entirely vacant. The village commissions a TIF feasibility study the same year.
2015 – TIF District Created: Lisle establishes the Downtown TIF district including the Family Square site. This sets the stage for offering financial incentives to entice redevelopment. The empty plaza, now fenced off, deteriorates visibly.
2017–2018 – Planning and Interest: Lisle’s Downtown Master Plan process incorporates Family Square, calling for mixed-use redevelopment on the site. Informal talks with developers begin. Oxford Bank (later GreenState Credit Union) keeps the property off the open market, preferring to work with select prospects.
2021 – First Formal Proposal: Flaherty & Collins, an Indianapolis developer, partners with the bank and unveils a plan for a 204-unit apartment building with retail (later refined to 198 units) on the Family Square site. Community design charrettes in October gather resident input.
Jan 2022 – Village Approvals: The Lisle Village Board approves a redevelopment agreement with up to $10.5 million TIF incentive for Flaherty & Collins. Mayor Pecak vetoes it, but trustees override the veto to keep the project alive. Hopes are high that demolition and construction will start by year’s end.
2023 – Delays: The project encounters financing delays. In May, Lisle grants the developer an extension to close on the purchase by mid-2024. The site remains untouched through 2023, testing villagers’ patience.
Aug 2024 – Deal Collapses: Flaherty & Collins misses the Aug. 30 financing deadline, terminating the agreement. In a letter, the developer cites challenges with required retail space and market changes, expressing regret. The plaza is still vacant, nearly a decade after closing.
Oct 2024 – Second Attempt Fizzles: Synergy Construction makes an offer on Family Square weeks after the first deal ends. However, by early Dec. 2024, Synergy withdraws, concluding the site can’t fit their mixed-use vision (“too tight” for everything). Another setback leaves the future uncertain once more.
Mar 2025 – Fresh Start: The bank (GreenState) finally lists the property for sale with a broker, opening the door to new proposals. Meanwhile, Bridge Street Properties pitches a nearby townhouse/apartment project to revitalize the area’s fringes. Family Square’s fate is a hot topic in the April mayoral election. The community awaits a viable plan that will turn this long-vacant site into a productive part of Lisle again.
The Future Vision
With the past laid bare, Lisle now turns to the future: What should become of the Family Square site, and what vision will truly serve the community best? Various ideas are under consideration, informed by both the failures and the aspirations of recent years. One concept gaining traction is a scaled-down mixed-use development – something that still blends residential and commercial uses, but in a form that fits more comfortably on the three-acre parcel. Former Trustee Mary Jo Mullen notes that Lisle’s downtown master plan explicitly “calls for mixed use in these areas”, suggesting that any future proposal should include some element of commerce (shops, cafes, or services) rather than being purely housing. However, the exact balance is up for debate. After seeing one large apartment tower plan falter, some officials suggest breaking the site into multiple components – for instance, townhomes or rowhouses on the quieter back portion near residential streets, and a smaller retail or restaurant cluster fronting Ogden Avenue. This could create a transition in scale from the downtown core to the adjacent neighborhood, addressing concerns about traffic and density. It’s a strategy not unlike what Bridge Street Properties has proposed on the block to the east, where a mix of townhomes and a low-rise apartment building would surround an open green and reserve a pad for future commercial use. Such a phased approach might attract different developers specializing in each use, rather than one developer trying to do it all.
Another avenue being explored is to recruit a strong commercial anchor for the site – a use that can draw visitors on its own, spurring additional development around it. Mayor Pecak has hinted he’s spoken with retailers interested in the location, and insists the corner “should be for commerce,” even suggesting the existing strip mall building could be reoccupied in the interim. While no names have been made public, residents have speculated about possibilities like a specialty grocery store, a local market hall, or even a community center. A small-format grocery or a popular restaurant could indeed serve as a catalytic first step, bringing life back to the site and providing a long-missing amenity to that part of Lisle. Comparisons to other suburbs come up often in local discussions. Towns like Glen Ellyn and Wheaton, for example, have successfully redeveloped aging retail sites with mixed residential and boutique retail projects that respect their small-town feel. Closer to home, Lisle’s own Marq on Main development – a five-story apartment building opened in 2019 on the former village hall site – is cited as a success story. It introduced new housing in downtown and, by extension, new customers for restaurants and shops, helping revitalize Main Street. A redeveloped Family Square could do the same for the Ogden Avenue corridor, extending downtown Lisle’s vitality up to its busy commercial artery.
Crucially, any future plan must reckon with the lessons learned from previous attempts. Financing needs to be solid and realistic – perhaps meaning a project built in stages rather than all at once. The question of ground-floor retail viability must be addressed: Flaherty & Collins struggled because lenders doubted the demand for so much retail space in that spot. A new plan might include less commercial square footage or incorporate more flexible live/work units that could start as apartments but convert to storefronts if demand grows (an idea briefly included in the earlier plan). Parking and traffic flow will also be key. The community has voiced concerns about congestion, so a design that safely manages ingress/egress – perhaps linking to side streets or adding cross-access to neighboring properties – will win support. Stormwater management and green space, often overlooked in the past, are likely to be priorities too, ensuring the development is not only economically viable but also environmentally sound and attractive. Imagine a public plaza or small park on part of the site, which could both buffer the development and provide a gathering place, honoring Family Square’s legacy as a community focal point. Such features, combined with perhaps a sculpture or historical marker nodding to the old “Peony Patch” or A&P, would weave the new project into Lisle’s narrative.
Perhaps the most important ingredient for the future is community buy-in. The charrettes and public feedback in 2021 were a good start, and residents will expect to be kept involved as new plans emerge. Lisle’s citizens – from long-time homeowners to young professionals – have a stake in what replaces Family Square. Will it be something that “fits” Lisle? The tone of recent meetings suggests guarded optimism. There’s a sense that the coming year or two represents a chance for a “reset” and a wiser plan. As one development attorney noted in a recent hearing, investing in adjacent projects and showing confidence can create a ripple effect to finally tackle Family Square. In other words, success breeds success: if the village and developers can demonstrate forward momentum (even if not directly on the site itself at first), it might encourage the right partnership to coalesce for the plaza.
In the best-case scenario, five years from now Lisle could see a mixed-use neighborhood center rising where plywood and potholes now lie. Envision a row of townhomes and a mid-rise apartment on the perimeter, filled with new Lisle residents walking to the Metra station or PrairieWalk Pond. Envision a corner café or bakery where the old restaurant stood, and perhaps a local grocer or clinic occupying a modern retail building along Ogden. The parking lot that once hosted carnivals might host a weekly farmers market or art fair, reinvigorating the tradition of community gatherings on that corner. This may sound idealistic, but it’s grounded in the very feedback villagers have given and the examples set by comparable communities. One thing is for sure: Lisle’s Ogden Avenue corridor is poised for a comeback, and Family Square’s rebirth (in whatever form it takes) will be a linchpin in that renaissance.
Conclusion
The story of Family Square Plaza is, in many ways, the story of suburban America over the last half-century – a tale of early promise, mid-life prosperity, slow decline, and the hard work of reinvention. From its optimistic start in the 1960s as Lisle’s first major retail strip, through its bustling peak as a hometown shopping destination in the 1970s, to the troubling vacancy and blight it became in the 2010s, Family Square has been a focal point at each stage of the village’s evolution. Its boarded-up storefronts today are more than just an unfortunate eyesore; they are a daily reminder of how economic shifts and planning decisions can impact an entire community. The rise and fall of this little strip mall at Main and Ogden did not go unnoticed – it mattered to people. That’s why, despite years of frustration and false starts, Lisle’s residents and leaders have not given up on Family Square. They have debated, pushed, and persevered, because they know that what replaces that derelict plaza will shape Lisle’s identity and vitality for decades to come.
Now, at a critical juncture, it’s time to turn the page. As one resident implored at a recent meeting, “Let’s not leave it in the dark any longer.” The call to action is clear: learn from the past and be bold about the future. Lisle has an opportunity to not just fill an empty lot, but to create something that reflects the community’s character – innovative yet neighborly, forward-looking yet respectful of history. That could mean attracting a developer who shares the village’s vision or perhaps forging a public-private partnership to get the job done right. It will certainly mean holding decision-makers accountable and keeping the public engaged every step of the way. The coming plans will need to be fiscally prudent, architecturally thoughtful, and community-centered if they are to succeed where others failed. But if done well, the redevelopment of Family Square can transform a cautionary tale into a comeback story.
As Lisle residents drive by Ogden and Main in the future, they should be able to see a place that once again invites them in – whether to shop, dine, live, or simply gather with neighbors. The boarded windows and “No Parking” signs will be gone, replaced by lights in new shop windows and families strolling on new sidewalks. In essence, Family Square’s next chapter should restore its original purpose as a “family square” in spirit – a place for the community to come together. The journey to get there has been long and winding, but the destination is finally in sight. By reflecting on how far it’s come and rallying around a shared vision, Lisle can ensure that the corner of Main and Ogden goes from being a lingering problem to a point of pride. The story of Family Square Plaza isn’t over yet – and with collective will and creativity, its best days may still lie ahead.
Sources
Village of Lisle Meeting Minutes & AgendasPublic discussions from 2014–2025 about Family Square, TIF creation, and redevelopment proposals.
Downtown Lisle Master Plan (2017–2018)The long-term development vision for downtown Lisle and the Ogden Corridor.
Daily Herald Archives (2012–2025)Local news articles covering Family Square’s foreclosure, developer negotiations, and political updates.
Lisle Historical SocietyBackground on Lisle’s development history, including the “Peony Patch” and early shopping centers.
DuPage County Property Records & Tax AssessmentsOwnership, tax data, and foreclosure filings related to Family Square.
CBRE Property Listings (2025)Broker handling the sale of Family Square Plaza.
Public Design Charrette Materials (October 2021)Village-hosted workshops gathering public feedback on Family Square redevelopment.
https://www.villageoflisle.org/668/Development-Opportunities
Bridge Street Properties Redevelopment Proposal (2025)Proposal for adjacent parcels including housing and green space, intended to complement Family Square.
https://www.villageoflisle.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01222025-1354
Special Village Board Meeting – January 31, 2022Vote on the Flaherty & Collins TIF incentive and redevelopment agreement.
https://www.villageoflisle.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01312022-1157
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