Affordable housing developer Housing Opportunity Development Corporation (“HODC”) held a community meeting on January 9, in an effort to answer residents’ questions before it presents a revised proposal to the village’s plan commission on January 16, for the site of the former American Legion Post at 1925 Wilmette Avenue.
After receiving input from residents that they would like to see more families in the building, HODC modified its proposal to a family-oriented design that includes 16 units, 10 one-bedrooms and six two-bedroom apartment. The plan still includes 20% set asides for veterans and people with disabilities.
The revised plan no longer includes four additional parking spots located in the adjacent Wil-Ridge Plaza or a service easement across HODC’s property. The agreement HODC had secured with the plaza’s owners was abandoned in May 2016, after the shopping center was purchased by Artis Senior Living. Artis just received approval by the village board, to replace the strip mall with a three story, 64-unit memory care facility.
The change requires HODC to seek zoning relief for parking — there will be 20 parking spaces — as well as a new turn around area in front of the building for service vehicles.
A drawing of the proposed affordable housing development in Wilmette.
At the community meeting, Richard Koenig, HODC’s executive director, explained some of the ins and outs of affordable housing, as well as answered individual resident’s concerns. Koenig explained that affordable housing means the apartments will be rented at below market — $600 for one-bedroom and $800 for two-bedroom apartments — and will require an income threshold for tenants that they earn no more than $30,000 for a single person, or $38,000 for a four-person household.
“The goal is to provide a different alternative to housing in Wilmette,” Koenig said.
Many residents at the meeting asked whether the apartment building would be targeted toward Wilmette residents. While federal housing law prohibits set asides for local residents, Koenig said that the building would be marketed toward the community with the aim to allow low-income residents to stay in Wilmette.
Other residents expressed concerns about HODC’s management of the facility, pointing to a problem SRO building in downtown Evanston HODC owns and manages. “That particular building we’ve had a lot of growing pains. It is very different than our other buildings,” Koenig said. While Koenig acknowledged that the Evanston building had been problematic, he reassured residents that HODC had improved its practices by hiring professional management staff and would be a good neighbor.
HODC’s original proposal drew criticism from Wilmette residents, prompting it to withdraw its proposal and revise its plans for a more family-oriented apartment building. Koenig noted that some residents still view the new plan with skepticism, but he hopes to win them over. “We are adding change to a community and change is very difficult,” Koenig said.
But for residents who are hopeful that the affordable housing plan will be approved, Koenig still faces the hurdle of securing funding for the project. Koenig noted it can take several years to get funding, and predicts an opening in 2020, if all goes smoothly.
