Financing in place for proposed apartments serving mentally ill

The major source of funding for a proposed apartment building in Arlington Heights for mentally ill people has been approved, the developer says.

Boeger Place, 30 units proposed for south of Dundee Road and east of Arlington Heights Road, would still need a zoning change and variations from the Arlington Heights village board.

The board rejected the project in May but proponents are coming back with a revised plan.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority has approved tax credits that in today's economy are worth about $7 million, said Jessica Berzac, vice president of Daveri Development, the for-profit partner. According to preliminary estimates more funding would be needed because the building is expected to cost about $9 million.

The site, about 1 acre, is in north Arlington Heights close to Buffalo Grove at 120-122 E. Boeger Road.

At least 60 people attended a meeting Tuesday at Kingswood United Methodist Church in Buffalo Grove. Organizers structured it chiefly as an informational meeting about the need for this type of housing, answering written questions at the end. Judging by applause, at least 25 of the attendees were not supportive of the project.

A provision for staffing the building 24 hours a day, at least for the first year the apartments are open, has been added to the proposal, the partners said.

The partners also said they have made a better effort this time around to talk with neighbors, and have addressed the problem of transportation for residents.

Berzac said the partners are still working on issues of density and parking. A report she handed out said the request for 36 bedrooms is 20 percent higher than allowed under the zoning, although the 30 apartments is 67 percent higher than allowed by code.

It is hoped a revised proposal can be resubmitted to the village soon, said Berzac.

The nonprofit partners in the project are the North/Northwest Suburban Task Force on Supportive Housing for Individuals with Mental Illness, a group of parents of adults with mental illness; and Thresholds, which specializes in programs for people with mental illness.