Ground broken in Libertyville for badly needed affordable senior apartment complex; ‘It’s a priority for Lake County’
A groundbreaking ceremony for a 34-unit senior housing development in Libertyville Friday morning highlighted the need for such facilities, as Lake County will face a 1,200-unit deficit in affordable senior housing by 2027.
Eve B. Lee Place, named after longtime affordable housing advocate and 1961 Libertyville Fremont High School graduate Eve Lee, will be completed in the fall of 2025 at 500 Peterson Road. The facility will also act as the new offices of Community Partners for Affordable Housing, which provides housing services to residents across the region.
Lee has previously received the National Hometown Hero and Fair Housing Champion awards from the National Association of Realtors for her work.
"To have this happen in Libertyville where I graduated high school from ... affordable housing was not welcome in the village back then. To see it welcomed in this way is a true honor," Lee said.
The development features a wide array of project partners, including Lake County, the village of Libertyville, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the Lake County Housing Authority, Cinnaire and Wintrust Community Banks. On Friday, a sizable crowd of officials and representatives were in attendance.
Rob Anthony, president of CPAH, said affordable housing is one of the biggest challenges facing Lake County residents. A study last year by Lake County Partners found the county will be nearly 8,000 affordable housing units short by 2027, with about 1,200 senior units needed.
Anthony was grateful for the support, from the local to state level, the project has enjoyed over the years. Despite numerous challenges, including the pandemic, the project managed to break ground.
"There's a huge demand for affordable senior housing," Anthony said. "It's a priority for Lake County."
Libertyville Mayor Donna Johnson praised the project. It will have a positive impact on the surrounding community and businesses, she said.
"We're thrilled to partner with CPAH to transform a vacant office building that has sat unused for over 15 years into a vital community asset that aligns with the village's comprehensive plan goals," Johnson said.
According to a press release, the maximum income at the senior apartments will be about $47,000 for a one-person household, and $54,000 for a two-person household. Rents will range from $1,080 to $1,280 a month.
The facility will include eight two-bedroom units and 26 one-bedroom units, a resident computer room, library, fitness center, community room, second-floor terrace, garden space and accessible walking path around the building. The leasing process is expected in the months leading up to the completion of construction.
Eve B. Lee Place will also be all-electric, the release said, and has been "holistically designed" to be more environmentally sustainable.
