Advocates make compelling case for affordable housing project in Glen Ellyn
This editorial is a consensus opinion of the Daily Herald Editorial Board.
The debate over what Glen Ellyn should do with two vacant hotels shows how challenging it is to get affordable housing in the suburbs.
A group of residents has spent more than two years pushing for the village-owned properties near Roosevelt Road to become an affordable housing development.
Those advocates already are working closely with Full Circle Communities, a nonprofit affordable housing developer. And U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez has announced that she's seeking $750,000 in federal money to "facilitate demolition and site remediation necessary to create space for an affordable housing development."
Still, village officials remain undecided on what they want to do with the land. Glen Ellyn trustees agreed in June 2021 to spend $2.85 million to buy the crumbling hotels. The village completed the purchase a year and a half ago.
Village President Mark Senak told our Katlyn Smith that trustees continue to deliberate about how to redevelop the site.
We can understand why they don't want to rush their decision. There aren't many parcels available for redevelopment in Glen Ellyn. And the village spent taxpayer money to acquire the two hotels because officials wanted to stimulate redevelopment of the sites, which had long been considered blighted.
Glen Ellyn already has seen offers from commercial, office and residential developers interested in the more than 2 acres between Roosevelt Road and Taft Avenue. Meanwhile, affordable housing proposals often face not-in-my-back-yard opposition from some residents.
Affordable housing generally is defined as housing that costs a renter or homeowner no more than 30% of their monthly income.
While Glen Ellyn complies with a state law requiring at least 10% of its housing stock to be affordable, advocates say the village needs higher-quality and ADA-accessible units. They make a compelling case for why the site near Roosevelt Road is the perfect spot for new affordable housing.
The location has easy access to public transportation, schools and health care. It also is across the street from a park and within a quarter mile of four grocery stores.
There is a lack of affordable housing in the suburbs. Hardworking but low-paid workers cannot afford to live in the cities and villages where they toil. Even some older empty nesters have to leave their communities to downsize.
But Glen Ellyn has an opportunity to make a difference and serve as an example for other towns.
Full Circle would like to build affordable housing units for people with disabilities and a range of incomes.
We hope its proposal gets a fair hearing from Glen Ellyn trustees.