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Politics & Government

More Info For Tonight's Senior Housing Meeting

This article contains more background on DKI's proposed senior housing project, and the senior housing plan of Equity Growth Group.

Representatives from the real estate group DKI tonight are going to talk to residents tonight about their proposed senior housing project.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. tonight in the City Council Chambers at Batavia City Hall, 100 N. Island Ave.

If you want more background on the project, read the Batavia Patch story written below about DKI's Feb. 9 presentation to the Plan Commission. 

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The story also contains information about the Equity Growth Group's senior housing plan. An informational meeting on that plan will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Council Chambers at , 100 N. Island Ave.

The public will be able to voice their thoughts and concerns on the two plans at a 7:30 p.m. public hearing on March 9 in the Chambers.

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For the story on DKI's Jan. 25 presentation to the Community Development Committee, click .

Feb. 9

The city's Plan Commission last month voiced their concerns regarding the senior housing plans of two companies.

DKI Inc. and Equity Growth Group each want an Illinois Housing Development Authority Tax Credit to help fund their respective projects. DKI has a multi-level complex that would have about 90 units and Equity Growth Group proposes an 80-unit complex.

Each project would be built west of Randall Road.

Before either of them can move forward the state Development Authority requires them to have the land properly zoned for their developments by April 15 to qualify for the state tax credit.  

“My experience, it's unlikely (the tax credit recipients) will be both of them, but I think it’s a high probability they will award one of them because there’s a high demand in this market place,” said David Smith, president of Iowa-based Equity Growth Group.

DKI's Proposal

DKI proposes to put about 90-units of independent senior living housing on the northeast corner of Deerpath Road and Main Street, which is the part of the Iron Gate Development. The city must rezone the Iron Gate property, which is currently zoned for office and commercial use. 

DKI’s made some changes to their project to accommodate the city’s needs since the Jan. 25 presentation of their project to the Community Development Committee.

 DKI initially presented a three-story building design. They changed the design to two stories on the north side and three stories on the south and southwest side due to council members’ concerns that the height would cause lights to spill into single-family homes in that area, said John Green, DKI’s Landscape Architect.

DKI will also work to save some of the trees on the property, addressing Alderman Jim Volk's fear of the trees on the property being cut down.

Keeping the trees will not reduce the amount of space for the project—it only changes the shape of the plan, Green said.

Equity Growth Group's Proposal

The Equity Growth Group presented a similar senior housing plan for South Drive south of Janet Lane, east of the Windemere Development on the Hawk’s farm property and west of the Walmart property.

The independent senior living housing complex would have about 80 units with underground parking, a computer room, fitness center, hair salon and pool lounge.

“We think that’s a huge amenity for seniors because they don’t drive all the time ... having that security blanket knowing their car is ready for them,” Smith said.

The senior housing would be close to Walmart for shopping and the Dreyer Medical Center in case of an emergency, Smith said.  

For them to precede with the project the city would have to annex and rezone the Hawk’s property. The property is zoned for commercial use at this time.

Gene Schneider, a plan commission member, likes the idea but is concerned the city will be stuck with annexed and rezoned property without plans to develop something.

A senior housing complex would be better because Smith thinks it would create less traffic impacting residents in the area less than a Walmart.

“(With) the exterior we use stone," Smith said. "It would be a real asset to the community. It does give that residential look. It’s not as industrial or commercial looking,” Smith said.

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