Prospect Heights to get $30 million assisted living community

Developers are expecting to break ground by early September on a $30 million, 101-unit assisted living project in Prospect Heights.

The project will take up five acres of land near the intersection of Elmhurst Road and Palatine Road and is projected to be completed in about one year.

Developer Greenbrier Senior Living plans to build one three-story, 69-unit building for assisted living and a one-story, 32-unit building that will specialize in memory care.

Greenbrier Chief Executive Officer Larry Pusateri says the assisted living center will offer full-service dining options, physical therapy and a wellness program.

The memory care building, Pusateri says, will include intense staff supervision and an enclosed courtyard for residents to use.

Prospect Heights Mayor Nick Helmer says the project will help serve the city's growing senior population.

"There's a shortage of those types of units in the northwest area," he said. "And it can serve not just people who live here now, but people that have their roots near Prospect Heights who want to stay in the area."

Pusateri says Greenbrier has developed several independent-living sites for seniors, but this is the company's first assisted living project.

Greenbrier is also working on three other senior living projects in the area, but has not announced the locations.

Pathways Senior Living will manage both the assisted living and memory care buildings, Pusateri said.

Before any construction can begin, Helmer says, houses currently on the land have to be demolished and the soil has to be tested. Helmer says all of the houses on the land are vacant.