Are Planned La Grange Apartments Affordable?

LA GRANGE, IL – Suburban developers often promote their condo and apartment projects as "high-end" or "luxury."

In La Grange, the developer of a proposed four-story building is no different. In its application, the company says the 31-unit complex would be high-end, in compliance with La Grange's design guidelines.

At a public hearing Tuesday, the developer's lawyer cited cost-per-square-foot numbers that he said were the median in La Grange.

Statistics show that La Grange is one of the costliest places to live in Illinois.

Of the more than 1,300 towns in Illinois, La Grange ranks as having the 58th lowest rate of affordable housing, according to a state report. As of 2022, the median price for a La Grange housing unit was $547,000.

At the Plan Commission hearing, Commissioner Julie Egan noted the development would be high-end. She asked whether the developer would include any low-income units, helping the village with its plan for more affordable housing.

"It's something we'd consider," replied Tim Foley, a lawyer for the developer.

A couple of residents also mentioned affordable housing. One of them was Cynthia Schilsky, who has lived in town for four decades.

"The lack of affordable housing is a crucial issue across the country, particularly in La Grange," she said.

She said society is going to see more higher-density housing.

"This is a necessity going forward," she said.

According to state records, La Grange has 250 more affordable housing units than it did a decade ago.

Last year, La Grange had 754 affordable housing units out of a total of 5,332 units, according to an Illinois Housing Development Authority report.

That works out to 13.2 percent, up from 9.4 percent in 2013. Last year's rate compares to 2.1 percent in Western Springs, 3.7 percent in Hinsdale and 4.5 percent in Burr Ridge.