$174 Million Expansion Continues at Oak Trace Senior Living

The original founders of Downers Grove were migrants, moving from one home to another in search of happiness. Today, a different sort of migration is in the works, as retirees who’ve called Downers Grove home for most of their lives look toward life’s next step, in pursuit of happiness.

Charles Scott and his wife, Jacksene, have been proactive in planning their next step. They recently reserved a new residential living apartment home at Oak Trace, the city’s only retirement community offering Life Care. Redevelopment is the buzz-word that’s attracting many future residents like Charles and Jacksene to Oak Trace. A $174 million expansion includes two phases. The first, which includes modern, state of the art assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehab, will open this spring. The second, set for completion in 2021, features new residential living apartments and villas, social spaces, dining venues and more.

“We were looking for a place where our kids and grandkids would want to come and see us,” Charles Scott said. “We wanted a community where people are active and there’s plenty to do while also having peace of mind knowing we’d have care if we need it. We found all this at Oak Trace after several informative and helpful meetings, and we put down our deposit.”

Like the Scotts, George and Nancy Hamouz said they chose to live their future at Oak Trace because of what the community has to offer in terms of beautiful new residential living apartments and amenities, the peace of mind that comes with the new health services accommodations, and because they know so many current and future residents.

“We have friends who already live there as well as friends who are moving in at the same time we’ll be moving in,” said George Hamouz. “We lived in Clarendon Hills for more than 40 years - a wonderful community - and we wanted that sense of community in retirement. We’re lucky we’ve found it at Oak Trace.”

Oak Trace executive director Blaire Goldstein says excitement is building as phase one of the project nears completion.

“There’s definitely plenty of buzz among our residents, both about the health services programs and accommodations and other upcoming changes,” she said. “The future is bright at our community and you certainly get the sense that our current and future residents are excited about what’s to come.”