Opposition Organizes Against Low-Income Housing at American Legion Site

A website has formed organizing opposition to a planned 20-unit affordable housing development at the former site of the American Legion building in Wilmette.

A group of Wilmette residents first took to a Facebook group, and now www.stop1925redevelopment.com, to voice their concerns on the planned effort at 1925 Wilmette Ave.

The Housing Opportunity Development Corporation (HODC) has proposed a building that would include 20 studio or one-bedroom units on a 14,652 square-foot lot with a monthly rent of $335 to $615.

Creators of the protest site have dubbed it “low to very low income housing.”

Among the numerous statements against the HODC’s plan is the following:

“We believe that the proposed development will (a) require too many zoning variances that are neither justified nor appropriate, (b) create significant parking problems and dangerous traffic conditions, (c) not serve the interests of our community including our own residents in need of affordable housing, (d) impose unnecessary burdens on nearby residents and surrounding areas, and (e) lack adequate safeguards to ensure the safety and well-being of our children and families, nearby residents and would-be occupants themselves.”

Richard Koenig, executive director of HODC, told the plan commission last month the HODC’s plan is to construct a building with 10 studio and 10 one-bedroom apartments on the second and third floors. A ground floor would include a community room, office space and open-air parking stalls.

Other concerns the web site pointed out regarding the development were “no preference for Wilmette’s needy residents,” “not suitable for children or families with kids,” “too many requests for zoning variances,” “deceptive traffic study done on Saturday” and “too few parking spaces.”

The Plan Commission is expected to either make a recommendation for or against the development at its December 1 meeting.