Senior housing project in Warrenville could break ground next month

A developer of affordable senior housing plans to break ground next month on a 71-unit independent living community in Warrenville.

But before it can start construction of the three-story building, The Alden Foundation is seeking a roughly $2.5 million loan from DuPage County to help pay for the estimated $21.2 million project. County board members are expected to vote on the loan request later this month.

"We are looking to close on all the financing in mid-May, acquire the property and then begin construction," said Beth Demes, executive director of The Alden Foundation.

The development, dubbed Warrenville Horizon Senior Living Community, will offer independent living to seniors 62 and older in a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Demes said the loan from DuPage - and funding from the Illinois Housing Development Authority - will allow Alden to build a quality development while keeping the rents affordable to seniors on fixed incomes.

"There's nothing like this in Warrenville," she said. "We believe it's a good location."

The building will draw tenants from Warrenville and neighboring communities when it opens in late summer or early fall 2021, according to Demes. There already are 36 people on the waiting list, she said.

Warrenville Horizon will be located along Batavia Road, west of Butterfield Road, in the city's Civic Center.

"I think it's going to be a real nice project at that corner," said Ronald Mentzer, Warrenville's director of community and economic development.

Mentzer said the project will give existing Warrenville residents the opportunity to downsize and remain in the community. It also will diversify the housing stock in the city, he said.

Alden is planning to acquire four parcels totaling 3.8 acres for the project. The plan is to construct the building on roughly 2.3 acres. Approximately 1.4 acres along the West Branch of the DuPage River will be donated to the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

Demes said the roughly 77,000-square-foot building will have common area amenities for residents. It will include a community room, a library, an exercise room and a theater room.

The building will offer 56 one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom apartments. One of the two-bedroom apartments will be for the on-site maintenance manager.

Rent for the apartments will range from $366 to $990 a month for a one-bedroom and $743 to $1,190 a month for a two-bedroom.

Demes said Warrenville Horizon will attract people with a mix of incomes.

"We'll have units that are affordable to seniors at different income levels," she said, adding that a handful of units will have no income restrictions.