Hotel Bollero to become senior living center

A “lifestyle” hotel in Palatine that once billed itself as refreshing alternative lodging for style-conscious 20-, 30- and 40-somethings soon will give way to an older, less transient population.

Plans are in the works to convert Hotel Bollero, which had been Hotel Indigo until earlier this year, into an independent senior living facility for residents 55 and over.

The Palatine village council on Monday approved a proposal to develop the Reserve at Twin Lakes, a 168-unit senior residence at 920 E. Northwest Hwy. Prospective owner Tom Leontios of International Development Equity Associates, a Park Ridge-based firm under contract to purchase the building, also operates Plum Creek Supportive Living in Rolling Meadows.

In his business plan, Leontios said his company’s process “transforms ‘tired’ hotel properties, sometimes with a minimum of renovation, into ‘new’ retirement housing.”

In addition to changing the facade from its current blue and white design to browns, whites and greens, the developer will combine some of the hotel’s 191 rooms to offer larger living spaces for some residents. The lower level of the five-story building also will feature 6,700 square feet of retail space. Leontios said he’s in talks with a health club provider that specializes in low-impact exercises for seniors to open in place of the existing Furlongs restaurant, which will be demolished.

“Our marketing efforts will turn ... to people who want to stay in the community,” Leontios said.

Residents of the Reserve will pay a $2,500 monthly fee for all meals, utilities, services and activities. The new facility will feature three dining areas, spa and wellness services, a concierge, transportation, an indoor pool and a courtyard.

Leontios said that after plans are finished in about six weeks, he expects it will take a month to get a building permit from the village. Then there are about four months’ worth of renovations needed.

Palatine officials questioned whether the senior residence would put a strain on the fire department due to an increase in calls for medical service, but Fire Chief Scott Andersen said it wasn’t a concern.

Although the former Doubletree Hotel underwent a $6 million renovation to open as Hotel Indigo in 2005, many customers who have posted recent online reviews complained about rundown facilities. The Bricton Group of Mount Prospect took over the operation from InterContinental Hotels Group a few months ago.

A Hotel Bollero representative expects the hotel will continue operating until the end of the year.