Hoffman Estates to sell current fire station site for construction of supportive housing

Just days after the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Fire Station 22, Hoffman Estates officials are making plans to sell the site it’s replacing.

Trustees Monday unanimously authorized the drafting of an agreement to sell the 1.35-acre site at 1700 Moon Lake Blvd. near the Ascension Saint Alexius Medical Center campus to the Association for Individual Development (AID) for construction of a permanent supportive housing facility for residents with intellectual disabilities.

Hoffman Estates Director of Development Services Jennifer Horn explained the proposal and how it came about.

“For those not familiar, permanent supportive housing pairs long-term rental housing with services either on-site or connected outside services to people with disabilities,” she said.

Horn added that such projects typically are financed through a mixture of state and federal funding as well as other private sources. Falling into a not-for-profit category, the agency’s building would be exempt from property taxes.

The purchase price is set at $300,000 with the village’s agreement to waive inspection fees. But AID would buy the property as-is and assume responsibility for demolition of the fire station there now.

The estimated cost of the project is more than $20 million, and AID’s anticipated funding arrangements would obligate it to continue operating the building as permanent supportive housing for at least 30 years, Horn said.

Though not yet designed, the building is anticipated to be three stories, include 30 to 40 living units and largely resemble a regular market-rate housing development, Horn said.

She explained the village itself recognized a need for this type of housing in the community and sent out requests for qualifications last year to identify a firm.

Village board members indicated their support.

“I just think this is a great idea,” Trustee Karen Arnet said.

Trustee Karen Mills added, “It’s a wonderful idea and something that’s well needed in the area.”

As the new Fire Station 22 at 1801 Governors Lane isn’t expected to be completed and occupied until early 2028, the closing on the sale of the old site isn’t anticipated until that winter or spring.

The more formal sales agreement trustees authorized Monday is scheduled to be ready for approval at the Sept. 28 village board meeting.

epeterson@dailyherald.com