Gurnee seniors project gains final approval

Final plan approval has been granted by the Gurnee village board for a three-story, 105-unit seniors supportive-living facility on East Grand Avenue.

To be called Heritage Woods of Gurnee, the complex will offer 33 studio units and 72 one-bedroom abodes. Developers are billing Heritage Woods as affordable senior housing.

Village Administrator James Hayner said Chicago-based Barron Development made minor changes to the final plan as requested, such as adding a storage shed for landscaping equipment and tweaking decorative lighting.

“I know they are anxious to get this project under construction this spring,” Hayner said before the Gurnee village board voted 5-0 in favor of Heritage Woods’ final plan last week.

Heritage Woods has a state-issued supportive-living facility license for Lake County because the area lacks affordable senior housing options. Monthly rent prices are controlled by the state as part of the supportive-living license.

Barron representatives have noted such places are required to accommodate residents who can afford to pay on their own, along with those who’ve depleted their assets and are Medicaid recipients.

Heritage Woods is projected to open in mid-2012, with typical residents being at least 85 years old. Gurnee Trustee Jeanne Balmes and Mayor Kristina Kovarik said they’ve already heard from residents interested in moving to the complex.

“We’re very fortunate to have this in Gurnee,” Kovarik said.

Heritage Woods will be on the southwest corner of Grand and Waveland avenues, east of Route 41. The long-vacant property at one time was home to a veterinarian clinic.

Elsewhere in Lake County, a state-issued supportive-living license has been granted for a 94-room facility along Rollins Road in Round Lake Beach. Plans call for that building to be four stories.