Wayside transforming 4-story office building in Elgin to transitional housing

The Elgin City Council has cleared the way for Wayside Cross Ministries to transform a four-story office building into a transitional housing facility.

The 42,000-square-foot building at 890 N. State St. could ultimately house and provide services for 126 people. The move required an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance.

Wayside Cross Ministries is a faith-based charitable organization with a nearly century-long history of providing residential facilities, meals, spiritual guidance and life-skill training to vulnerable populations.

The proposed facility would be modeled after Wayside’s existing shelter in Aurora.

Mayor David Kaptain called Wayside “a very professional organization,” saying he’s worked with them numerous times over the years.

“They have exceeded my expectations every time, so I fully anticipate this is going to be a wonderful project,” he said.

The building, located on Route 31 just south of Big Timber Road, is about 80% vacant. Nationwide Business Loans currently occupies the first floor and the top three floors are empty.

The facility would provide housing and a residential and recovery program for men and women as they transition through a five-step program. Wayside’s program guides residents through a series of activities and actions that positively affect their growth and transformation.

The facility would offer dorm-style living quarters with women on the second floor, and men on the third and fourth floors. The first floor would be used for common areas and include a variety of programmatic support areas to facilitate skills and job training, counseling, and spiritual and motivational support.

The basement would include a shared kitchen, dining room and laundry facilities.

The facility would have 10 staff members, including a security guard.

Wayside has been operating an emergency shelter at 1730 Berkley Street since 2007 in a building it also rents to PADS of Elgin. While PADS would continue to operate on Berkley, Wayside would consolidate its operations at the proposed facility.