Senior housing considered in Vernon Hills

Affordable senior housing is a possible element in a new complex to include a library and community center in Vernon Hills.

Whether or how that might fit will be among the topics discussed today as the village board convenes a work session following its regular meeting at 7 p.m. at village hall, 290 Evergreen Drive.

Neither the senior housing nor Vernon Hills Park District community center are imminent, but those uses would be bunched with a full service Cook Memorial Public Library District building expected to break ground in October east of Aspen Drive, south of Route 60.

Road configurations proposed earlier may not leave enough space for seniors, however, and changes would be needed to accommodate such a use. In short, the village board will have to decide how three separate uses can fit on the 9-acre site and function effectively.

"That's precisely it," said Village Manager Mike Allison. "How does that work? Do we have to compromise maybe some of what we wanted, mainly that connection between Aspen and Atrium (Drive)?"

Mayor Roger Byrne periodically has noted the need for senior housing and mentioned this spot, which is owned by the village, as a possibility. There has been no specific directive from the board.

Byrne, Allison and Assistant Village Manager John Kalmar recently visited Pathway Senior Living in Bartlett, and learned it would require about four acres for two buildings. That complex had 104 units in each building. One was for independent living apartments and the other for something similar to assisted living. Charges in both were based on residents' income.

Because they are affordable, the financing for such projects is complex and includes grants, low interest loans, tax credits and possibly a land donation.

"We really need to learn about it," Allison said. "It's just that you're in the sweet spot, so to speak, of this development and you need to be cognizant of everything else."

A park district community center of 50,000 to 60,000 square feet would need room for 200 parking spaces. A spot now designated for parking also could be used for senior housing, but a good deal of space is taken by the end of Phillip Road and the proposed connection from Atrium to Aspen.

One idea is to eliminate the connection and proceed with an Aspen entrance only. Directing stormwater storage underground also would provide space for parking as would a shared lot for the senior complex, library and community center.