West Dundee moving forward with Bright Oaks senior housing development
West Dundee could soon be home to a 149-unit senior housing development that village officials say will help meet the needs of the community's aging population.
On Monday, trustees unanimously approved the final development plans for Bright Oaks of West Dundee, located at the northwest corner of Route 31 and Willow Lane. The senior living facility would provide various services and suites for memory care, assisted living and independent living.
"There certainly is a lot of demand for this project," Village President Chris Nelson said.
The Bright Oaks Group has multiple ongoing projects at different stages throughout the area, including in Elgin and Fox Lake, causing village officials to raise some concerns about the feasibility of the West Dundee project's completion, Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said.
In turn, the village board's approval is contingent upon several conditions, including a pledge from developers to provide proof of sufficient funding for the development, he said.
Additionally, the Bright Oaks Group must set aside $1 million for site restoration if the project falls through. That funding will be released in increments at various stages of construction.
"It gives us some degree of protection to ensure the project is progressing substantially," Cavallaro said.
Bright Oaks of West Dundee includes two phases, the first being a building with 108 total suites for assisted living, memory care and bridge care, which allows couples affected by dementia to live together with full access to the facility's services.
The second phase, which would be considered at a later date depending on the market, includes construction of a free-standing, mixed-use building with retail space on the first floor and independent living apartments above, Community Development Director Tim Scott said in a memo to trustees.
Developers are expected to break ground on the project this spring, with the first phase to be complete in 2017, according to village documents.
"Offering housing choices to our aging residents is a really important way to build and preserve a community," Scott said.