Less than three months after opening its doors, all but three apartments in Steger’s senior citizen housing complex are occupied.
But those vacancies offer slim hope to the 87 people on the complex’s waiting list, according to a spokesman for the complex developer.
“Three people are coming in, in the middle of October, and they already have deposits down,” said Jim Bilotta, operations manager for the Hinsdale-based Stough Group, which developed and is managing the 7.16-acre residential complex.
Bilotta predicted 90 single people and couples will be living in the facility’s 81 apartments by Oct. 24, the day public officials are scheduled to dedicate the facility, known as Centennial Village.
Steger President Lou Sherman said Centennial Village is intended to provide an alternative to elderly people who have found it difficult to maintain a single-family home. Roughly 10 percent of Steger’s 10,000 residents are 65 or older.
Low-cost senior housing is available in Alsip, Chicago Heights, Hickory Hills, Park Forest, Richton Park and University Park. Unlike the low-cost housing in Park Forest and University Park, the Steger facility requires residents to be at least 62.
In addition, it gives first priority to village residents, second priority to relatives of current residents and third priority to former Steger residents who left because suitable housing was unavailable.