The 37-acre former Institute in Basic Life Principles property northeast of Ogden Avenue and Adams Street has a new development proposal, and for the first time in six years, it meets village code.
The Hinsdale Village Board on Tuesday, July 21, referred developer John Pembroke's plan for 19 single-family homes to the Plan Commission for review.
A village memo confirms the 19-house subdivision meets all zoning regulations. Pembroke's firm, Island Construction, is not seeking a single variance or exception. That distinction matters: every prior developer who tried to build on this land ran into density fights that killed their plans.
The proposal, submitted to the village in April, would place the homes on the northeast portion of the property while reclassifying 15 acres as open space. A future homeowners association would own and maintain the parkland, which would be publicly accessible, according to the developer.
Island Construction held a neighborhood meeting on Monday, June 30, at The Community House. Neither the developer nor the village has published resident feedback from that session.
Six years of failed plans
The IBLP site has sat vacant since the Texas-based religious organization left Hinsdale. Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies first pitched a 245-unit, three-story senior living complex in 2020. By February 2022, Ryan had scaled back to 200 units. Neighbors still said it was too dense and would choke traffic. Village President Tom Cauley announced the withdrawal in April 2022.
"I made clear to Ryan Companies that if they come back with another proposal, they should first touch base with residents and determine whether the residents abutting the IBLP property and in the general area have issues with their new application," Cauley said at the time of the withdrawal.
Burr Ridge-based McNaughton Development also proposed houses on another portion of the property but drew criticism from the Village Board.
The physical site itself poses challenges. A 2020 Plan Commission packet notes that roughly 23% of the property consists of floodplain, floodway, and wetlands, with 32 feet of elevation change across the parcel.
Two projects, one property
The Island Construction subdivision is separate from a second development in the pipeline for the northwest portion of the IBLP intersection, where the institute's old headquarters building stands. That project, unveiled in May 2026, calls for 11 duplexes and a 169-unit senior living building offering independent living, assisted care, and memory care.
What's next
The Plan Commission, chaired by Steve Cashman and staffed by Village Planner Bethany Salmon, will review the Island Construction application. The commission typically meets on the second Wednesday of each month at Memorial Hall, 19 E. Chicago Ave. No agenda has been published confirming when the case will be heard. Residents can check villageofhinsdale.org or call Village Community Development at 630-789-7000 for scheduling updates.
The vote count for the July 21 referral has not been published. Village Board meeting minutes, once posted, will be available through the Village Clerk's office.
