Low-income, senior apartments proposed for vacant site in Algonquin

A low-income and age-restricted housing complex proposed for Algonquin recently received a recommendation of the village's planning and zoning commission.

If approved by the village board, the complex would be built on a vacant lot on County Line Road between Boyer Road and Millbrook Drive. It would feature a mix of 45 one- and two-bedroom apartments, and be available to residents 62 years or older who make less than 80% of the area's median income.

A two-story building would be at the center of the project, with six one-stories buildings built around a U-shaped driveway. The two-story building would have an elevator, fitness room and a community room with a kitchen.

Ohio-based Pivotal Housing Partners is behind the proposal. In its 28 years of business, it has sold only three properties after their completion, said Wyllys Mann, its senior vice president of development.

"When we come to town, we stay in town," Mann said. "We're building for the property to be there for hundreds of years; we intend to own it for hundreds of years."

Pivotal's goal is to break ground in spring 2024 and have residents moving in about a year later. The developer plans on funding the project through the Illinois Housing Development Authority.

They would prioritize leasing to existing Algonquin residents, Mann said.

The Church of the Latter-day Saints owns the property. Pivotal will purchase the land only if the village approves a final planned unit development for the project, Mann said.

A traffic study determined the development would have a "relatively light" impact, Algonquin senior planner Patrick Knapp said.

So far, Knapp said he has heard only positive feedback from Algonquin residents.

Jason Shallcross, Algonquin's community development director, said the complex will be built "in the same vein" as neighboring townhouses.

"There's a large need for this everywhere," Shallcross said. "Algonquin is no exception to that."