Construction is slated to begin in the spring on a 190-unit senior housing complex at Route 83 and 91st Street.
A commercial component is planned for the 19-acre parcel as well, but that will come later and possibly by a different company than the firm that will develop the senior housing facility.
As part of the project, the property, currently under DuPage County jurisdiction and zoned for 10,000-square-foot homes, will be changed to a planned unit development and annexed into Burr Ridge.
“We feel the proposal should be developed in the community where it will have the greatest impact; and that is Burr Ridge,” said David Shaw, an attorney for Spectrum Senior Living LLC. “Burr Ridge is entitled to the economic benefits. The village is entitled to the sales tax (from the commercial development). And, for the company, a Burr Ridge address is an asset.”
The senior housing complex will consist of a two-story, 178-unit main building for assisted living and memory care patients, and six cottage-style duplexes for independent living residents.
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Spectrum representatives said they would normally build a three-story structure on such a parcel, but noted going with two stories as well as the cottage-style duplexes are an effort to fit in the surrounding neighborhood.
Members of the Village Board gave the proposal a green light by a 5-0 vote Monday. Trustee Diane Bolos was absent.
“I think the community is going to benefit from the Spectrum proposal,” said Trustee Tony Schiappa.
Residents of the nearby Fallingwater Subdivision and Plan commissioners had raised concerns at an August Plan Commission meeting about traffic circulation, parking, perimeter fencing, retaining walls, landscaping and building materials. Revised plans addressed those concerns and the project got unanimous Plan Commission support in September. No residents spoke regarding the project at Monday’s meeting.
“I appreciate that Spectrum wants to be part of Burr Ridge,” said Trustee Guy Franzese. “It is a terrific plan that a lot of thought went into. The cottages buffer residents of Fallingwater from the main building. The detention ponds are a buffer on the south and southwest.”
Spectrum operates 3,500 senior housing units on 30 properties in 11 states. It has three properties already open in the Chicago area — in Cary, Lake Zurich and Lombard — and has facilities under construction in Streamwood and Libertyville.
Mike Longfellow, senior vice president of Spectrum, said units in the Burr Ridge facility would likely range from $2,000 to $2,500 per month for the smallest units to $5,000 to $6,000 per month for the largest units and including memory care assistance.
Longfellow said it is unclear at this time whether Spectrum will develop the 3.5 acres of the parcel along Route 83 or whether the company will have another firm develop that land. He said Spectrum has done it both ways with other projects.
Village officials noted that whoever develops the commercial portion of the property, residents will be better protected with the parcel under Burr Ridge’s control.
“Annexation gives us a way to control the development on that property,” said Trustee Al Paveza. “Cook and DuPage are a lot less stringent with their requirements than we are.”
Mayor Mickey Straub echoed Paveza’s sentiments, noting that a corner of Route 83 and 91st Street is under DuPage County control and is home to a 24-hour service station.
“We would have no control” over the property if it remained part of the county, Straub said. “It could be another 24-hour service business. It could be another Speedway.”
Longfellow estimated the senior housing facility would generate 75 jobs, with 25 to 30 individuals present at shift changes and 10 to 12 employees present during overnight hours.
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.