Mayor: Senior Housing Complaints 'Not Factual'

For the past few months, residents in the Water Chase subdivision have voiced concern with a senior housing development proposed to go on a 3-acre lot near .

On Monday, New Lenox's Village Board got its opportunity to respond. The board held a first read of the annexation agreement for the property and a special use agreement for the plat.

The biggest thing Mayor Tim Baldermann wanted to clarify is that the project is not public housing, a major concern residents mistakenly had with the development. 

In the early stages of the process, there was discussion about the project being funded with tax credits and having to meet certain federal standards such as age and income restrictions. 

The truth is that the private companies funding the project would receive federal tax credits, not the developer. To receive those credits, though, the project must meet certain Fair Housing Act and IRS standards that include the age and income restrictions.

The facts weren't clarified at earlier meetings, allowing rumors to spread on Patch and other local media. Baldermann assured the residents that the project is not public housing. 

"This is not HUD. Some of the things that have been said (in public comments) are not true," Baldermann said. "Some of the statements made were completely not factual. A lot of it is coming from residents who are putting false information out there."

Still, residents in the adjacent Water Chase subdivision  have expressed other concerns with the planned three-story, 50-unit building, including its location, density and how maintenance and age restriction would be managed.

At the meeting, village trustees expressed confidence in developer William Bolker's quality of building but concern with the location and accessibility to other amenities. 

Trustee Dave Smith said he wanted further discussion on the annexation agreement, so the board likely wouldn’t vote on the project at its April 23 meeting.

"I think we need adult housing, but we need something for them to do," Smith said. "I don’t think there’s a clear plan of what to do. Just to dump these poor people in the middle of a commercial area, I don’t think is proper."

Trustee Annette Bowden spoke about her mother’s move to senior housing and how much she enjoyed it. However, Bowden said her reservation with Bolker’s project is the size and location.

"When you have this many units, it’s really not very environmentally friendly," she said. "It looks like a sea of asphalt."

Bolker didn't defend his project, but has had to at previous meetings. He's said residents would be right next to the Calistoga Plaza shopping center and have recreation opportunities in the building.