The 41st Ward Zoning Advisory Committee meets the first Wednesday evening at 6:30pm to discuss zoning proposals put in front of them. Tonight the committee and about 75 community residents listened to a senior housing development project proposal for the Passionist Monastery located at 5700 N. Harlem. The presenter was Bob Garonski from Senior Suites Development Company.
Senior Suites is a Chicago based company that develops and manages about 10,000 senior apartments in 19 different states. Below is a summary from my notes. If you are looking for technical details, would be best to call Senior Suites for a detailed answer. The proposal will continue to be discussed at next month's Zoning Advisory Committee meeting, on December 7, 2011.
Presentation
Four (4) "Compelling" Reasons to consider the Senior Suites Proposal:
1. Preservation of a historically significant building. The monastery has national landmark historical status.
2. Demonstrated need for Senior Housing for persons > 62 years of age with an income between $15,000 to $36,000/year. Mr. Garonski cited a City of Chicago report done by the Department of Aging that identified the need for about 1700 affordable senior housing units within the local community. The average rent/month will be about $704.00/month, and the range will be about $375.00 to 1400.00/month. There will be a total of 84 units available.
These housing units ARE NOT SECTION 8 HOUSING UNITS (nor are they HUD funded).
3. The project will assist the Passionists with creating a Capital Campaign to fund successful missions in the future.
4. Will assist the Immaculate Conception Parish goals to obtain additional land for the parish use.
General Description:
There will be a total of 84 senior apartments. A three story addition will be built and added to the existing building that will hold 54 of the apartments. The other 30 apartments will be built within the existing building. There will be a few studios available, approximately 63 one-bedroom apartments and the rest two bedroom apartments.
Two existing buildings will be torn down to accommodate the addition: the 1980 infirmary addition and a 1970s garage addition. The project is a "planned unit development". Access will be through the existing curb cut driveway and not through the church parking lot.
Amenities:
- Utilities included in the rent
- Weekly transportation via a bus to local shopping area, at no charge.
- Monthly housekeeping, at no charge.
- Use of laundry facilities, at no charge.
- Optional meal program.
- Emergency pull cords.
- Morning check-in system.
- Year long lease.
- Fitness Center and planned activities.
- Reflection room (current chapel space) and lounges.
- Passive green space, preservation of mature trees, landscaping, gardens and walking paths.
- 48 parking spaces and a "screened" parking lot.
- LEED certified project.
Questions from the Zoning Committee: [ Will complete tomorrow]
The Zoning Advisory committee requested the following information to be brought by the developer to the next zoning advisory committee meeting:
1. A plan taking into consideration preserving the existing zoning for all green space areas that will not be part of the actual restoration and/or addition, thus keeping green space zoned RT1 (single family units) and only seek a zoning change (RT 3.5 or RT4) for specific space needed for the senior apartments. The reason for this request: much land is being requested to be rezoned at RT4 (multi unit zoning) that will not actually be part of the actual building restoration. The concern being that in a few years, additional units could potentially be added on disturbing the character of the desired green space to be preserved.
2. Clarification of landmark status - National Landmark Status as well as an inquiry as to whether Chicago Landmark Status should be applied for.
3. Storm water flow plan/flood prevention plan.
Projections:
Construction to possibly begin in six months. Projected to be completed around November 2013. It is estimated the construction project will generate about 120 jobs. The developer mentioned that 50% of the construction job hours have to go to Chicago residents.
If you attended the meeting and have a comment, please post.
looks like this may be good for the neighborhood
ReplyDeleteIf the building is on the historical register, I thought it couldn't be touched. Am I wrong?
ReplyDeleteI think this will help Seniors who don't have huge city pensions and can't afford Resurrection and Norwood Crossings.
ReplyDeleteHope the seniors will be safe so close to the blue line. Watching the wildings on the news and the packs of wild things beating and robbing downtown.
ReplyDeleteWhere do the other 50% of the jobs go? To out of state contractors and residents. Just like Garvey school where the contract was given to an out of state company.
ReplyDeleteI hope if this things goes through that this will be for the seniors of the 41st.ward, not other "neighborhoods" With the blue line so close by i'm sure it will bring a lot of undesirables into the hood
ReplyDeleteI think this a great idea. Let's make sure it's for HIV+, transgender, convicted sex offender, handicapped, 2 times prior bankrupt, divorced, un-documented, non english speaking, drug dealing seniors. We want the best, because we deserve it.
ReplyDeleteAnd for 12:49 - his own special townhouse, complete with padded rooms.
ReplyDeleteSenior Suites made an excellent presentation that gave a viable option for this underused property. They have done their homework and put forth a positive solution for many site issues. I hope the community will get behind this realistic option for middle income seniors. We are not getting any younger you know.
ReplyDeleteWhat is this going to do for our property values... I don't think this will help. How about the crime factor too?
ReplyDeleteEXCELLENT Presentation from Senior Suites ~!~!
ReplyDeleteAll 62+ senior applicants will be screened
for credit and background checks.
NOT Section 8 or CHA housing~!~!~!
What a great addition to the 41st Ward and neighborhood~!
Attend a CAPS meetings so "you" can learn about the criminal element that is not in this 16th District.