DeKalb developer, landlord Jim Mason dies

DeKALB – Prominent DeKalb County area business owner and landlord James “Jim” Mason died on Sunday, his business associates said.

Mason was the namesake of Mason Properties, which owns rental properties across DeKalb and Sycamore. Mason also hosted a local radio show called “Jim Mason’s Inconvenient Truth,” a conservative-leaning talk show during which he offered frequent and at times controversial opinions on local, state and national issues, including politics and business. The show aired weekly on WLBK 98.9 FM/1360 AM radio.

Greg W. Davis announced Mason’s death in a news release Monday, according to an email shared with Shaw Local News Network. Davis is listed as a controller for Mason Properties on his pastor page on the United Pentecostal Church in DeKalb website.

“We regret to inform you of the passing of James C Mason, this morning [Sunday], at his home,” Davis wrote.

Davis said Mason Properties will continue under the direction of his family, including his partner Linda Mason, son Ryan Mason and his daughter Ashley, according to the email.

Mason Properties is one DeKalb’s largest landlords, renting to students and families near the Northern Illinois University campus. The late developer also dabbled in commercial and retail space.

Mason frequently announced ambitious development plans which he said were meant to bring family-friendly recreation and other economic opportunities to town.

DeKalb resident and friend Michael Embrey said he’s planning to work with Mason’s business partners to broadcast a tribute radio show special on WLBK on Jan. 2.

Embrey said he thinks Mason should remembered for his community-building efforts.

“Jim was so committed to community, more than people thought,” Embrey said, noting how Mason had been a participant and advocate on numerous local government issues.

In spring 2018, Mason put his hat in the ring to be DeKalb’s city manager. He once offered to buy the former DeKalb City Hall on Fourth Street and turn it into corporate suites.

“Those qualities are lacking in a lot of people,” Embrey said. “He had some great plans, including the laundromat on Fourth Street. It’s hard to find somebody that has the money and the expertise.”

The DeKalb developer also leaves behind a sometimes controversial legacy.

In 2017, Mason sued DeKalb School District 428, alleging that the district was secretly bussing hundreds of out-of-district students to school in town, inflating property taxes for area residents. In 2019, a federal judge ruled in favor of DeKalb School District 428 and dismissed the lawsuit. Mason eventually dropped the suit but continued to voice his claims.

St. Albans Greens rental community, 711 S. Main St. in Sycamore, burned down in a fire in July 2019. Investigators deemed the fire accidental, believing it was started by a cigarette put out on a balcony. In the years after the blaze, Mason announced plans to rebuild the space, turning the 40-unit complex into townhomes. That plan never came to fruition.

He was a supporter of Northern Illinois University sports, records show. Linda and Jim Mason were named in NIU’s 2022 Friends of the Hall of Fame at that year’s Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony.

Mason owned and operated the South Fourth Street Mega Grande Laundromat. In 2019, he opened an indoor sports facility with big-screen digital golf simulators dubbed Mason’s Indoor Golf Family Fun Center at 1500 Sycamore Road in DeKalb.

Sarah Whiting, Mason’s business assistant, on Monday confirmed his death. She declined additional comment, deferring to family who she said would know best how Mason would want to be remembered.

The scheduled Dec. 26 airing of “Jim Mason’s Inconvenient Truth” will be a rerun.