Just five months after we broke ground, the foundation is complete and the walls are beginning to rise at The Union Villa Park. As progress continues, our team is refining the branding and messaging around the development that will bring 238 luxury apartments, 7,500 square feet of ground floor retail and 94 indoor public parking spaces to the Old Town neighborhood of Villa Park, suburbs of western Chicago.
Just five months after we broke ground, the foundation is complete and the walls are beginning to rise at The Union Villa Park. As progress continues, our team is refining the branding and messaging around the development that will bring 238 luxury apartments, 7,500 square feet of ground floor retail and 94 indoor public parking…
The Union will play a significant role in the transformation of downtown Villa Park, and as we considered what this development has to offer residents and the community, we couldn’t help but note how it exemplifies the phrase the right place at the right time.
The Old Town neighborhood in Villa Park is a micro-district on the rise. The recently built 37,600-square-foot Villa Park Recreation Center located across the street from the site of The Union opened last year and has drawn village residents with its upgraded facilities both indoors and at the adjacent Lyons Park. The consistently high occupancy level at neighboring Ovaltine Court, an adaptive reuse of the historically significant Ovaltine factory built in 1917, points to pent-up demand for upscale rental in the area, especially in buildings that honor the area’s history. And village officials report a desire among those who already have experience with Villa Park to remain, from young adults putting down roots to empty-nesters and right-sizers looking for a lower-maintenance lifestyle.
Meeting the moment in multifamily development right now also needs to take into account aspiration and attainability. The Union will offer an elevated living experience in Chicago’s near western suburbs that leaves more room in the budget to enjoy the opportunities that come with the renter lifestyle in a vibrant community. Residents will enjoy boutique, urban luxury that is just a 30-minute train ride from downtown Chicago and even closer to neighboring suburbs like Elmhurst and Oak Brook. With the Great Western Trail bike path at its doorstep, The Union connects to one of the area’s top outdoor attractions. According to a 2025 survey from RentCafé, 41% of renters are interested in suburban neighborhoods with “lots of greenery and great amenities.”
Viewed through a broader lens, The Union Villa Park also exemplifies a growing trend we’re seeing in the revitalization of suburban downtowns across the greater Chicago area. Upscale rental that offers exceptional social, recreational, fitness and remote work amenities is no longer exclusive to city centers, as residents choose suburban locations for proximity to friends, family, work and play. Officials of suburban villages have taken note and are interested in working with developers to add housing as well as community amenities. Our close collaboration with village officials in Villa Park resulted in a development that is not only providing high-demand housing but is also anchoring the transformation on one of its historic downtown neighborhoods, something that is expected to continue to unfold in the years to come.