Meeting on mental illness all about apartments, again
Opponents of a proposed apartment complex for mentally ill residents agree this kind of housing is needed, but remain unconvinced it should be built in Arlington Heights.
At least 10 of the around 70 people who attended a meeting at St. Edna Catholic Church Thursday night clearly opposed the project.
The meeting was held by the North/Northwest Suburban Task Force on Supportive Housing for Individuals with Mental Illness, a parents group that wants to build 30 units of supportive housing for people with mental illness, and was meant to be an informational discussion about mental disorders.
In May the Arlington Heights village board turned down their request for rezoning and variances which would have permitted the Boeger Place Apartments to be built at 120 and 122 E. Boeger Road, east of Arlington Heights Road and south of Dundee Road, bordering on Buffalo Grove.
The Task Force hopes to resubmit the proposal with enough changes to gain approval. That nonprofit group is working with Thresholds, a nonprofit that provides services to people with mental illness, and Daveri Development Group, a for-profit developer.
Frustrated with the format that required questions to be submitted in writing during the meeting's short question and answer period, opponents blurted out a few questions and remarks Thursday.
They included questioning the cost of the building and the advisability of placing it next door to a day care center and relatively close to Buffalo Grove High School.
Craig Horwitz of Buffalo Grove, who has been outspoken against the project, questioned why the building, expected to cost just under $9 million, is so expensive. It will be supported with federal tax credits and money from the Illinois Housing Development Authority.
"It's not fair to hurt other people," he said after the meeting. "It's not fair to people living in Timber Court (a nearby condominium complex) or KinderCare or Buffalo Grove residents or Illinois taxpayers."
Jessica H. Berzac, vice president of acquisitions and development for Daveri, said Friday that the price tag, while still fluid until bids come in, is not that high when compared with affordable housing across the country.
It would be built to a high standard, meet requirements of energy efficiency and green construction and must also bear costs required by the village such as an extra-long extension of a water main, she said.
Dean Bloom of Arlington Heights said whether the residents are dangerous or not, community perception will drive the day care center out of business, and that is not fair to the center that has been there 20 years, the parents who use it or the elderly landlord who depends on the rent.
Hugh Brady, co-president of the task force and chair of the meeting, said the location near the day care center and school is only a problem if you consider mentally ill people dangerous. He said people who frequent the businesses in the area are not screened for their mental health or even whether they have criminal records.
The task force plans another public meeting at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 14, at Kingswood United Methodist Church, 401 W. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove. The format has not been finalized, said Brady.