Senior needs trumps space for Vernon Hills center
The buildings may not be a good fit physically, but Vernon Hills trustees say the need for affordable senior housing trumps any site limitation.
Overruling concerns of the village planning and zoning commission, the village board on Tuesday informally approved plans for the $40 million Victory Centre of Vernon Hills.
Planned for two 5-story buildings at Phillip Road and Atrium Drive, the project will feature 231 apartments and supportive living units with rents starting as low as $400 a month.
"I know it's a problem of location, but I'm afraid if we don't do it here it won't happen," Trustee Cindy Hebda said.
Seniors increasingly are worried about how they can afford to live, she added. Securing affordable senior housing has been on the village's wish list since 1993.
"There's no question these are significant structures," agreed Mayor Roger Byrne. "If we had five great acres someplace else we controlled, we probably would have put that on the table."
Village leaders purchased nine acres east of Aspen Drive a few years ago in hopes of snaring a new Cook Memorial Public Library building. That project is proceeding, and a push to find a developer to build senior housing on remaining adjacent land accelerated last fall.
A partnership led by Pathway Senior Living LLC won out over six companies for the village request for proposals, and the board in January approved a letter of intent to work with the group.
Pathway principal Robert Helle said 2,400 age and income qualified seniors live within five miles of the site. Pending final approval, expected in two weeks, the project could begin this fall and take about 15 months to build.
To make the buildings fit, Pathway requested several variations. While the planning and zoning commission recommended approval to change zoning to allow for multifamily housing, it denied requests for a special use permit and site and landscaping plans.
"They felt there were too many variations being granted for this location. Height and density were the two big ones," said John Kalmar, assistant village manager.
The senior housing site is near the Vernon Hills Park District's Sullivan Center and other amenities and Hawthorn Elementary District 73 schools. The park district is considering a major expansion of its facilities.
Park board President David Doerhoefer said the intent among the library, District 73 and village was to maintain the area as an educational/recreational corridor.
"We believe the (senior housing) location is not in the best interest of the community," he said.
Village Trustee Jim Schultz was the lone dissenter in three 5-1 votes on the project. He said he agreed with the planning and zoning commission and had also considered the area an education/recreation corridor.
Despite the downturn in new construction, the project can be pursued because a large part of the financing will be through the sale of federal tax credits for low-income housing.
The complicated method provides upfront cash, which reduces debt to the developer and allows rents to be affordable. But so many units needed to be built to make it work financially. Pathway trimmed some, but could go no lower than five stories.