Developer not moving forward with senior housing in East Dundee

A developer won't move forward with an affordable senior housing development in East Dundee after the concept met with opposition from trustees.

Plans proposed by Jim Bergman called for a three-story, mid-rise apartment complex with 70 units exclusively for seniors at the northwest corner of routes 72 and 25, Village Administrator Bob Skurla said. The 4.5-acre lot being considered — 2.5 acres of which belong to the village — was chosen because of its proximity to two other affordable housing projects also developed by Bergman: River Haven and Gardiner Place.

Village officials agreed more senior housing options are needed to meet the needs of East Dundee's aging population. But during a committee of the whole meeting Monday, trustees rejected the affordable housing concept, indicating they would rather see market-value housing at that location.

In turn, Bergman said Tuesday he will not continue with his initial proposal, nor is he interested in changing his plans. He had been intending to seek tax credits to assist with the new development, as he did with the other two projects, Skurla said.

As per state law, at least 10 percent of the village's housing stock must be affordable — a requirement already met by the 150 total units in River Haven and Gardiner Place, Skurla said.

“I think the next building needs to fit the needs of the community,” Trustee Rob Gorman said, noting most residents make too much money to move into a low-income complex. “I think senior (housing) needs to be done. Let's get it done, but let's do it in a way that's market rate. That would be my preference.”

Several residents in attendance questioned how any potential development would affect the single-family homes near the vacant lot — a concern echoed by Trustee Allen Skillicorn.

Village President Lael Miller, however, said weighing development options and eventually selling the property is in the village's best interest.

“In my mind, we need to have a conversation about what is actually appropriate for that area,” Trustee Kirstin Wood said. “(This needs) to be thought out thoroughly before we approach any developers and say, 'This is what we would like.'”