Residents questioning Grayslake’s handling of senior apartment plans

Some residents of a Grayslake neighborhood are concerned about how village officials are handling plans for a four-story, 70-unit senior apartment building on Route 120 just east of Alleghany Road.

Mike Andrews, who lives south of Route 120 across from Gray’s Lake, contends village hall hasn’t been willing to share the plans in advance of an information meeting and a public hearing.

“I’m not holding a pitchfork against the project,” Andrews said Thursday. “I’m holding a pitchfork on, ‘Why are you keeping it quiet?’ ”

Mayor Rhett Taylor said the village isn’t hiding anything. He said a desire to be open is why the informal meeting with details about Mercy Housing Lakefront and its proposal is set for 6:30 p.m. April 7 at village hall, 10 S. Seymour Ave.

“I think any time there is change, people are curious about it and rightfully so,” Taylor said.

Mercy Housing’s Chicago branch wants to develop 70 apartments for residents 55 and older. Rental subsidies through a Lake County agency would be provided to 25 senior households.

Under the plan, what’s called Grayslake Senior Apartments would serve residents with annual incomes of $15,800 to $31,600 for a one-person household. For two occupants, the income range would be $18,010 to $36,100.

Rent would be $424 to $713 per month for single occupants of one-bedroom units. Mercy plans to charge $509 to $850 for two residents in an apartment with the corresponding number of bedrooms.

Mercy would build 63 one-bedroom and seven, two-bedroom units in the four-story structure at Route 120 and Neville Drive. A community room, fitness center, library and warming kitchen are part of the preliminary plans.

Grayslake zoning board of appeals members originally were to hold a public hearing on Mercy’s plan March 14, but postponed it because of an apparent inability to hire a court reporter. The hearing was pushed to April 11.

Andrews said residents living near the proposed development site were unaware of the plans or public hearing until a neighbor saw a notice at village hall.

“My take on it is, why can’t we have official information?” Andrews said.

Larry Todryk, one of Andrews’ neighbors on Belle Court, said village officials should slow down the approval process for such a major project.

Zoning board of appeals members would issue a recommendation on whether the apartments are a proper use of the site. Village trustees would get the final say in the matter.

Taylor said the approval process slowed considerably after the March 14 meeting was postponed. He said residents will have several weeks to comment on Mercy Housing’s proposal.

Mercy Housing’s fact sheet on the Grayslake proposal states property taxes would be paid for the senior apartments at the same rate as other owners in the village, despite being a nonprofit organization.

Lisa Kuklinski, the organization’s vice president of public affairs, said the vacant land Mercy owns brings in about $21,000 in taxes annually. She said improved property with the apartments is projected to initially generate $60,000 in taxes.