Shortage of sites faces disabled housing

Arlen Gould’s opinion piece in support of the Grace Terrace apartment building in last Monday’s Daily Herald was spot on. He talked about the great need for permanent supportive housing (PSH) for people with disabilities in our area. He talked about the scarcity of PSH in our area, which is also huge. He explained how PSH works and the help it provides to its residents.

But one thing he did not talk about is the scarcity of potential sites for the new PSH apartment buildings which must be built to fill this need. Most of the Northwest suburbs are pretty much built out. There just isn’t much usable land available anymore.

When our task force started looking for a new site that might work, there were only three on the market in Arlington Heights. There was a good one on Rand Road. But while we were considering it, another developer snatched it up and it became Crescent Place. The second one was a good location, but the lot was of such an unusual shape that it was impossible to put an affordable building on it.

That left the proposed site of Grace Terrace on south Arlington Heights Road. It’s the right size. It is a good location, close to a grocery store and other stores, public transportation, and employment opportunities. And it had a willing seller.

The funds to build and staff it are already in place. It just needs approval by the Arlington Heights Village Board.

Given the need for and scarcity of PSH in our area, I ask, “If not now, when? If not there, where?”

Hugh Brady, Co-President

Housing Task Force