Politics & Government
Joliet Veterans Housing Complex Gets Another Look
Project would provide low-cost housing, supportive services for veterans and their families.
Joliet's Zoning Board of Appeals will review a proposal to bring affordable housing for veterans and their families to Joliet on Thursday.
Hope Manor Joliet, a 67-unit multi-family supportive living facility for struggling veterans, would be located on the former Silver Cross Hospital campus in Joliet, at the southwest corner of Copperfield Avenue and Hebbard Street. The facility would serve veterans who are at risk for homelessness — especially female veterans and veterans with children.
Developer Volunteers of America (VOA) has been working to bring the project to Joliet for more than a year. In February 2013, Joliet's city council shot down the plan, citing concerns over the density of the project.
City restrictions limit multi-family housing to 10 units per acre. Even after Silver Cross agreed to give the project more property on the former Joliet campus, the density was at 12 units per acre — a number that was still too high to suit city council members.
At the time, VOA President Nancy Hughes told Patch she was disappointed and "very, very surprised" with the city council's decision, saying the project was back to square one.
Now, VOA is bringing the project back for consideration, down from 73 to a proposed 67 units. The facility would be VOA's third Chicago-area veteran housing complex.
At large City Councilman Jim McFarland said he was one of the early backers of the project.
“We have great opportunity to do the right thing for the city and for our veterans," McFarland said. "The city council should be welcoming this project, but instead we’ve given it the run-around.”
McFarland pointed out that the project would be located near the new veterans outpatient clinic on Eagle Street, which opened in 2013.
“The city should have moved forward with this project last year," he said. "I would urge the zoning board not to make the same mistake that the previous council did."
McFarland said he isn't sure how soon the project could go before the city council for a vote.
"It's important that we get through this first hurdle," he said Tuesday.
The zoning board meets at 2 p.m. Thursday at Joliet City Hall, 150 W. Jefferson St.
Project details
The project calls for four separate, three-story buildings on the 7.9-acre property. The veterans housing area would be bordered by Copperfield Avenue on the north, Eagle Street on the south, Hebbard Street on the east and the vacated Squirrel Street on the west.Services for residents would include case management, support groups, emergency assistance, financial literacy classes, employment assistance and computer training.
Building One would contain 31 residential dwellings, along with first-floor offices for supportive services and a large community living and meeting room.
Buildings two, three and four would each contain 12 residential units.
The development calls for 67 apartments total, with a variety of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. All four buildings would surround a 28,000-square-foot recreational area for residents.
A 4.98-acre veteran's contemplation garden is also proposed northeast of the the housing area across Copperfield Avenue.
VOA would be the property manager and service provider for Hope Manor Joliet.
The organization also operates the $14.5 million Hope Manor I, located on the west side of Chicago, and $23 million Hope Manor II, on the south side of Chicago. The developments are home to more than 150 veterans and their families.
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