Tuesday June 22 - Mercy Housing Grayslake Apartment project on agenda for the Grayslake Village Board

The Mercy Housing Lakefront application for a Zoning Special Use Permit for the proposed apartment project at Illinois Route 120 and Neville Drive in Grayslake has been placed on the Committee of the Whole of the Village Board Agenda for Tuesday June 21st at the Grayslake Village Hall, 10 S. Seymour Ave., Grayslake, IL.

The Committee of the Whole meeting immediately follows the regular Board meeting which starts at 7. It is anticipated that Tuesday’s regular Village Board meeting will be short and the Committee of the Whole meeting would begin between 7:15 and 7:30.

Transcript of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting May 26, 2011

We have some more documents to share.

This is the complete official transcript of the meeting on Monday, May 26th, 2010 of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals on the Mercy Housing Lakefront proposed apartment project to be located at Illinois Route 120 and Neville Drive in the Village of Grayslake, Illinois.

Transcript of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting 05-26-2011

Grayslake Village Board and Committee of the Whole meetings for Tuesday June 7th have been cancelled

There is notice posted at the Grayslake Village Hall that both the Grayslake Village Board and The Graayslake Village Board Committee of the Whole meetings for Tuesday June 7th have been cancelled.

The next scheduled meeting is on Tuesday June 21st at 7 PM.

No Mow Mercy gives the preview of Mercy Housing's "excellent" property management

Want to have some amusement? Call the Grayslake Village Hall and join the dozens of complaints about Mercy Housing Lakefront's neglect of their proposed project site on Illinois Route 120 and Neville Drive. The grass has not been mowed, ever, and it is currently over 3 feet high and the site is full of garbage. But, like the dozens who have already called you will have to explain exactly what site you're talking about and you will hear that you, too, are the first to call to complain, just like all of the other Grayslake residents who have been calling with complaints for the last four weeks.

Click to enlarge pictures and for slide show

From No mow Mercy

From No mow Mercy

No mow Mercy

This is how Mercy Housing Lakefront does its "excellent property management." Mercy Housing has made it clear it owns this property. What isn't clear is when Mercy Housing intends to maintain their property. Even when the previous owners of this property were in bankruptcy and foreclosure the grass was mowed. When complaints were made, the mowers would show up within days of a single call to village hall. Now that Mercy Housing has ownership, that is evidently no longer necessary. It's just one more urban property to Mercy Housing. We can anticipate that this is how Mercy Housing would maintain their planned 70 apartment building on this site, too.

Any other home or business owner in Grayslake knows that ONE phone call would bring out the inspectors and the citations. If the grass is not cut immediately the village cuts it and sends a bill.

But not no mow with Mercy Housing!

Now. Wonder if this how it goes before the project is approved, how will calls and comments be handled if the project proceeds?

Grayslake Patch: Grayslake Recommends New Senior Housing

Grayslake Recommends New Senior Housing

Zoning board votes 6-1 to recommend building a 70-unit apartment complex for low-income senior citizens ages 55 and older at Belvidere and Neville roads.


http://grayslake.patch.com/articles/grayslake-recommends-new-senior-housing

Daily Herald: Grayslake board approves senior apartment plan

Grayslake board approves senior apartment plan
By Bob Susnjara

Grayslake zoning board of appeals members Thursday night gave a thumbs-up to a controversial plan for an apartment complex that would serve low-income residents 55 and older.
As an advisory panel, the board’s recommendation in favor of Mercy Housing Lakefront of Chicago will go to the Grayslake village board. The 6-1 vote approving the plan concluded a public hearing that stretched over four sessions.
...
http://bit.ly/kBXX6q

TribLocal: No injuries in late-night Grayslake apartment fire

No injuries in late-night Grayslake apartment fire

By Megan Craig TribLocal reporter

http://triblocal.com/grayslake/2011/05/27/no-injuries-in-late-night-grayslake-apartment-fire/

This was in the apartments right behind the Mercy Housing Senior Center site on Neville Drive.

Megan ran from the Grayslake Zoning board meeting to go cover the fire.

Transcript of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting April 25, 2011

We have some more documents to share.

This is the complete official transcript of the meeting on Monday, April 25th, 2010 of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals on the Mercy Housing Lakefront proposed apartment project to be located at Illinois Route 120 and Neville Drive in the Village of Grayslake, Illinois.


Transcript of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting 04-25-2011

Transcript of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting April 11, 2011

We have some more documents to share.

This is the complete official transcript of the first meeting of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals on Monday April 11, 2007 on the Mercy Housing Lakefront proposed apartment project to be located at Illinois Route 120 and Neville Drive in the Village of Grayslake, Illinois.

Transcript of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting 4-11-2011

TribLocal: Decision expected Thursday on controversial Grayslake senior housing facility

Decision expected Thursday on controversial Grayslake senior housing facility by Megan Craig

Neighbors expect a decision Thursday on whether a low-income senior housing facility will be allowed in Grayslake.
...
Andrews said his group hopes to present scale models of the building and three houses to the west, as well as photos of traffic on Route 120, which they contend is too busy for a large housing development.

At the previous meeting and in a formal letter to Plan Commission Chairman Karl Molek, Mercy Housing attorney Steven Friedland asked that such a presentation by the neighbors not be allowed at this point in the proceeding.

“I am aware of no legal requirement that would require the Board to permit such direct evidence. Any member of the public could have presented such evidence during the public comment portion of the hearing,” Friedland wrote. “If someone had wanted to present evidence to the Board they have had ample opportunity to do so.”

Neighbors of the project this week attached a balloon to 72 feet of string in an attempt to demonstrate how high the highest point of the proposed structure – a clock tower – would be, Andrews said.

The balloon has since been removed. ...

http://bit.ly/TribLocaldecision

05-26 Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals meeting - Documents and correspondence

For once the public can view the public documents that will be discussed at the May 26th Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.

Here:

Letter to the board from Attorney Steven D. Friedland representing Mercy Housing Lakefront

Response from Attorney Patrick J. Smith representing nearby property owners

Affidavit from nearby homeowner Michael P. Andrews

Do you want to live in "What-IS-that-big-thing-lake?"

To explain, that balloon is on a 72 feet, 8 inches long line, which is the height of the top of the clock tower on the proposed Mercy Housing Lakefront Grayslake Senior Center building at the lot on the southwest corner of Illinois Route 120 and Neville Road in Grayslake.  The balloon was tethered to the lot behind the building site where the ground is at a level 9 feet below the baseline of the proposed building - so the actual clock tower will be 9 feet higher!

At that, the balloon, even when the wind pushed it lower TOWERS above the adjacent properties AND the shore of nearby Gray's Lake: (Click for larger.)

From 120/Neville Grayslake Senior Project Height Demonstration Balloon

and as the other pictures show, can be seen far west on Route 120.

So what would the building look like? Let's put the drawing: (Click for larger.)

where balloon was (Note that the balloon is not in the same exact location where the clock tower would be.): (Click for larger.)

From 120/Neville Grayslake Senior Project Height Demonstration Balloon

Let's hope lakefront homeowners and recreational users of Gray's Lake like that view.


Discuss. (or comment below)

View all of the pictures in a slide show here.

Copies of Mercy's submitted architectural drawings are linked here.

Grayslake Patch: Hearing on New Senior Housing Building Thursday Night

Hearing on New Senior Housing Building Thursday Night

"It is too big for this site," said resident Mike Andrews of the proposed senior housing development in Grayslake.

By Marcia Sagendorph

"Three to four stories at this location is too much," said Mike Andrews of Grayslake regarding the proposed new development of the Mercy Housing Lakefront Senior Center.

He launched a large helium balloon on an adjacent property near Route 120 and Neville Road, on the south side of Route 120 and just west of Lake Street, across from Gray's Lake.

"When it goes straight up, this balloon is 72 feet, eight inches high, just like the clock tower of the building would be," Andrews said. "It would be the biggest monument in Grayslake."

Representatives from Mercy Housing said that the building height would actually be 53 feet, only a clock tower would be higher than that.

The plans for the Mercy Housing Lakefront Senior Center will be discussed by the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 26 at Grayslake Village Hall.


http://patch.com/A-hGPC

Daily Herald: Grayslake apartment opponents to argue their case

Daily Herald: Grayslake apartment opponents to argue their case
By Bob Susnjara

"Some Grayslake residents used a large balloon this week to show what 72 feet would look like where an apartment building they are fighting is proposed for low-income residents 55 and older.
Grayslake’s advisory zoning board of appeals will hold a fourth continued public hearing Thursday on the plan from Mercy Housing Lakefront of Chicago. It’ll start at 7 p.m. at village hall, 10 S. Seymour Ave.

Mercy Housing wants an amendment to a special-use permit to construct the four-story, 70-unit building on Route 120 across from the village’s namesake, Gray’s Lake. It would be called Lakefront Lodge.

At Thursday’s continued public hearing, an attorney for the opposition residents will present evidence designed to show Mercy Housing’s plan is lacking, and possibly cross-examine the company’s representatives.

Photographs of a large, tethered red balloon reaching 72 feet at the Mercy Housing site on Route 120 are part of exhibits attached to an affidavit that opposition resident Michael Andrews has submitted to the zoning board of appeals.

Andrews said the balloon, floated Monday, was meant to demonstrate the maximum height a clock tower would reach as part of Mercy Housing’s apartments. He and other opponents contend the building would be too tall and detract from the Route 120 corridor along the lake.

“The citizens of the village of Grayslake must realize this (apartment building) is going to be the monument of Grayslake,” Andrews said.

...
"In a letter to the Daily Herald this week, Mercy Housing Lakefront President Cindy Holler reiterated the site at Neville Road and Route 120 has been zoned for senior housing since 1998."

http://dailyherald.com/article/20110525/news/705259815/

Really, Cindy? Then why is this Zoning Special Use Permit required?

THIS HIGH! More photos of how high the 120/Neville project will be

This balloon just behind the proposed Mercy Housing Lakefront Grayslake Senior Center site at Illinois Route 120 and Neville Road shows how high the clock tower on the building will be at 72 feet, 8 inches.

120/Neville Grayslake Senior Project Height Demonstration Balloon

Click the picture to see a slide show and view the pictures in full size.


These views from across Gray's Lake show how the building will tower above the lake. See: The later post "Do you want to live in "What-IS-that-big-thing-lake?"

The actual highest point will be even higher because the "ground" at the site is about 9 feet higher.

We guess the neighbors don't need to see the Sun.

We will have more pictures and video posted soon. Stay tuned.

The architectural drawing: (Click for larger.)


Copies of Mercy's submitted architectural drawings are linked here.

TribLocal: Volunteers will gather to clean shores of Gray’s Lake Saturday June 11

TribLocal story by Megan Craig

The Grayslake Community Park District, with support from local volunteers and sponsors and the Grayslake Management Commission, will hold a lake clean up event for anyone interested in helping clean up debris and trash along portions of the shoreline, said Park District Executive Director Jeff Nehila.

The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon on June 11, along the shores of Grays Lake, starting with Jones Island Beach near the corner of Harvey Street and Alleghany Road.

http://bit.ly/CleanGraysLake

Final Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on the Route 120/Neville Mercy Housing Lakefront senior project Thursday May 26 at 7PM

What is scheduled to be the LAST Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals meeting with the Mercy Housing Lakefront proposed senior center at ROuet 120 and Neville on the agenda will be at 7PM Thursday May 26th at the Grayslake Village Hall.  Attorney Patrick J. Smith and some neighbors will be presenting the rebuttal to Mercy's filed documents and doing cross-examination of witnesses. We suspect the board will take the vote to recommend or deny the modifications to the Zoning Special Use permit at that meeting.

We want to have as many residents as possible in attendance at that meeting to hear the issues and see the procedures first hand. PLEASE spread the word to your neighbors to be there!  We're going to again use the only method we have to get the word out - handing out printed fliers door-to-door. We need some volunteers to hand out paper fliers in Grayslake from Sunday into next week!  If you can help please reply.

As always watch here at http://www.GrayslakeNeighbors.com or follow GrayslakeFolks on Twitter for any last minute news.

See ya at the meeting!

Appraisal, Parking and Traffic Study, etc. documents presented by Mercy Housing Lakefront to the Grayslake Zoning Board 05-16-11

 Once again the Grayslake public was invited to comment on the matter before the Grayslake Village Zoning Board of Appeals - without being able to see the documents before the board.

We have a fix for that conundrum.


These are the documents presented by Mercy Housing Lakefront to reply to the inquiries of the members of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals:



The cover letter from Attorney Friedland
Friedland Mercy cover letter 5-10-11.pdf

The parking and traffic study, real estate value impact appraisal, pictures of nearby properties, community and financial statements etc:
Mercy attachment studies-pictures 05-10-11.pdf

Architectural documents presented by Mercy Housing Lakefront to the Grayslake Zoning Board 05-16-11

Once again the Grayslake public was invited to comment on the matter before the Grayslake Village Zoning Board of Appeals - without being able to see the documents before the board.

We have a fix for that conundrum.

These are the architect's drawings the board was reviewing in two parts:

Mercy drawing 05-12-2011 part 1.PDF

Mercy Drawing 05-12-2011 part 2.PDF

Trib-Local: Neighbors ask for more time to fight low-income senior facilty

Neighbors ask for more time to fight proposed low-income senior facility in Grayslake
By Megan Craig TribLocal reporter

A proposed housing development for low-income seniors would not harm surrounding property values or significantly boost traffic at an already congested Grayslake intersection, developers told officials this week.

But wary neighbors need more time to study the study by Mercy Housing Lakefront, which wants to build a 70-unit complex at Route 120 and Neville Road. The Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals delayed for the third time a decision on the controversial project – this time until May 26.

...

Attorney Patrick Smith, who represents at least seven neighbors of the proposed facility, said he received Mercy Housing Lakefront’s study just two business days before Monday’s hearing, which didn’t allow him time to prepare for cross-examination.

Smith also suggested that his clients may commission their own traffic and market impact studies to contradict information presented by Mercy Housing.

He argued that because the board twice gave Mercy Housing chances to come back with new information, his clients also deserved that opportunity.

http://triblocal.com/grayslake/2011/05/17/neighbors-ask-for-more-time-to-fight-proposed-low-income-senior-facility-in-grayslake/

Daily Herald: Developer clarifies senior housing plans in Grayslake

Developer clarifies senior housing plans in Grayslake
 By Bob Susnjara

 Developers of a proposed low-income apartment complex for residents 55 and older in Grayslake said Monday night that there is a demonstrated need for the project in the area as they tried to gain approval from the village’s zoning board of appeals.
It was the third evening the advisory zoning board of appeals held a public hearing for the proposal from Mercy Housing Lakefront of Chicago. The zoning panel will hold a fourth continued public hearing May 26 and eventually forward a recommendation to the Grayslake village board, which gets the final say on issues.


Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110516/news/705169781/

May 9 Grayslake Zoning Board meeting postponed to Monday May 16.

The meeting of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals on Monday May 9th will be continued (rescheduled) to the following Monday May 16th. The board agenda with the requested modifications of the Special Use permit application for the Mercy Housing Senior project at Route 120 and Neville is being continued. The board will meet for a short time on May 9th to announce the continuation of the meeting due to not having a quorum.

From: Kirk Smith
Sent: Wed, May 4, 2011 9:27:30 AM
Subject: RE: Fwd: PUBLIC HOUSING PROPOSAL FOR 120 AND NEVILLE ROAD

Hello. Just let you know that due to scheduling conflicts the ZBA will be continuing the public hearing on the 9th to Monday the 16th at 7. The ZBA will meet on the 9th to continue the hearing to the 16th. Other than that, the ZBA will be taking no action on the 9th. If you have any questions please let me know. Thanks for your continued interest.

Arbor Day 2011; Belle Court welcomes a new Autumn Blaze Maple tree

On National Arbor Day April 29, 2011, the crew of J&E Nursery of Libertyville plants a new Autumn Blaze Maple at the corner of Belle Court at Route 120 (305 Belle Court) in Grayslake, IL

(Click the picture below for more photos and slideshow)

Arbor Day in Grayslake IL April 29, 2011

Lake County Forest Preserve Arbor Day Celebration Saturday 4/30 at Rollins Savanna

Looking for a beautiful tree for your home or business but don’t know a maple from a magnolia? Concerned about the threat of invasive species to trees in your neighborhood?

Don’t miss the Arbor Day Celebration at Rollins Savanna this April, where 20 assorted free trees will be raffled off every hour, made possible with a USDA Forest Service grant.

When: April 30, 2011
9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Rollins Savanna (Grayslake)
Who: All ages
Cost: FREE

Link: Lake County Forest Preserve Arbor Day Celebration

TribLocal: Zoning board has concerns about proposed low-income senior facility in Grayslake

Zoning board has concerns about proposed low-income senior facility in Grayslake

Zoning officials in Grayslake have raised questions about the impact on traffic that a proposed housing development for low-income seniors would have.

The zoning board didn’t decide whether to recommend approval of the project during its meeting this week. It asked Mercy Housing Lakefront to provide more detailed information about its proposal for a 70-unit facility at Route 120 and Neville Road. Further discussion was scheduled for May 9.
...(more)
http://bit.ly/dNnJAf

Another great job of reporting by Megan Craig!

Although some seem to want to downplay it, the April 11th Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting was standing room only, with over 200 people crowded in the room.

TribLocal: More opinions sought Monday about proposed low-income senior housing in Grayslake

http://triblocal.com/grayslake/2011/04/22/more-opinions-sought-monday-about-proposed-low-income-senior-housing-in-grayslake/

REVEALED! The actual Mercy Housing Lakefront Zoning Special Use Permit Application for the Grayslake Senior Center

Through a Freedom of Information Act Request we have obtained more of the actual documents contained in application by Mercy Housing Lakefront for modifications to the 2007 Zoning Special Use Permit for the Grayslake Senior Center project at Route 120 and Neville Road being considered by Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Special Use Permit document: 2011SUPApplication.pdf
Color Exhibits: colorexhibits.pdf

The citizens of Grayslake have requested repeatedly that the full collection of documents included in the application being considered by Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals - on which the board is seeking public comment - be made available to the public. This request was made at the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting on March 14 and again on April 11 - each time asking how the public could be invited to comment on a matter the public could not be aware of. Some documents were posted on the Village of Graylake web site, http://villageofgrayslake.com on April 4th. The posted "housing special use.pdf" version of the full file has 8 pages. The actual document being reviewed by the board, linked above, has 34 pages.

Some interesting items in the SUP document:

The application indicates that one change from the 2007 plan is the building is "3 stories w/garden level" vs. the original 3 stories...

...while the brochure from Mercy Housing Lakefront, included in the same document says "The building will be a four story elevator structure."

The application not only does not contain the required "Preliminary Plat," there is no drawing with a single dimension callout in the entire application, even as the variation being asked for mentions changes to normal 5 foot property setback. Not only is there is no indication where that request applies, there is not a mention of a single dimension of any length in any drawing included in the application to the board.

We continue to wonder how the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals is being asked to make an informed recommendation to the full Grayslake Village Board with the incomplete and inconsistent information in this application.

Grayslake Zoning Board meeting on the 120 and Neville senior housing project continued to April 25th

The Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on the evening of Monday, April 11th 2007 on the revision to the Zoning Special Use Permit for the proposed senior center project at Route 120 and Neville road was continued to the next Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on Monday April 25th at 7PM at Grayslake Village Hall, 10 South Seymour.

Mr. Karl Molek, the chair of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals, extended the public comment portion of the board agenda to the April 25th board meeting so the public still has the opportunity to file written comments and to file the request to provide testimony and be cross-examined and to cross examine witnesses.   Mr. Molek was accepting comment from all who attended the meeting, so it was not necessary to file the form to speak. Those who wish to be cross examined and who wish to cross-examine witnesses should complete the Public Hearing Appearance form here on the Village of Grayslake web site.

The plan by Mercy Housing Lakefront is to build a 50 foot tall 4 story 70 apartment elevator building on a raised lot bordering Route 120 barely 100 feet from the shore of Gray's Lake.

25% of the apartments will be subsidized for low income residents. The plan is that the residents must be 55 years or older. Some of the apartments will have 2 bedrooms.  It was announced on April 15th that 15 apartments will be reserved for special needs residents.

The lots on the site are zoned for commercial and residential use. The Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals will make a recommendation to the Grayslake Village Board on requested modifications to a 2007 Zoning Special Use Permit. That 2007 permit with a special ordinance was approved by the Grayslake Village Board in 2007 for a senior center project by a different developer. The Village Board must vote to approve this 2011 application.  

Among the changes in the Zoning Special Use Permit being requested for the 70 apartment building and before the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals are:

• Minimum age of occupants being age rather 55 than 62 as on the 2007 proposal
• Building a 4 story elevator building rather than 3 stories as on the 2007 proposal
• A 50 foot setback from Belle Court properties rather than a 55 foot setback as the 2007 proposal
• An exterior of Stone & Hardiplank rather than Stucco & Hardiplank as on the 2007 proposal

Public response in writing on the Zoning Special Use Permit should be delivered or mailed by Noon on Monday April 25th to:

Kirk Smith
Grayslake Village Zoning Officer
10 South Seymour
Grayslake, IL 60030

Mr. Smith's email address is ksmith@villageofgrayslake.com  See http://villageofgrayslake.com/index.aspx?NID=291

Grayslake Patch: New Senior Housing Proposed for Grayslake

Grayslake Patch: New Senior Housing Proposed for Grayslake

http://grayslake.patch.com/articles/new-senior-housing-proposed-for-grayslake

Daily Herald: Voices for and against Grayslake senior housing

Voices for and against Grayslake senior housing




http://dailyherald.com/article/20110411/news/704119829/

TribLocal: (Winnetka) Affordable housing debate to reach Council on Tuesday

Another town discovers that when the facts are held behind the back imaginations run wild and generate speculation to fill in the blanks:

Winnetka’s affordable housing proposal, which has bitterly divided residents in recent months, will come before village trustees for the first time Tuesday.
...

In March, Winnetka Village President Jessica Tucker tried to counteract misinformation about the plan by urging residents to study it before making comments at the April study session.

“I think it’s unfortunate that there have been some conversations out there that haven’t been based on facts,” Tucker said, including the rumor that the plan could bring Section 8 housing to the North Shore suburb.

http://triblocal.com/winnetka-northfield/2011/04/11/affordable-housing-debate-to-reach-council-on-tuesday/

Grayslake Patch: Route 45 construction snarls traffic into spring.

Route 45 construction snarls traffic into spring.

The much needed, and long anticipated, widening of Route 45 between 120 to just north of Washington Street in Grayslake has slowed already congested traffic through the center of Lake County.

http://grayslake.patch.com/articles/are-we-there-yet-7

TribLocal: Resident opinions split on proposed low income senior facility in Grayslake

Resident opinions split on proposed low-income senior facility in Grayslake

http://triblocal.com/grayslake/2011/04/08/resident-opinions-split-on-proposed-low-income-senior-facility-in-grayslake/

Overheard at the Open House

Overheard at the Mercy Housing Open House Thursday April 7th.

Looking at the elevation view.

"Are you in favor of this project?"
"No."
"Why not?  Isn't it a beautiful building?"
"Where are the gutters?"
"This is only an architectural concept.

New Twitter and FaceBook accounts

We have a Twitter account GrayslakeFolks  and are GrayslakeNeighbors on Facebook.

Be sure to follow and say hello there.

Grayslake April 5th Election results

http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/IL/Lake/28396/43582/en/summary.html

Neighbors of the Milwaukee Mercy Housing Project wanted answers

Sound familiar?

From March 9, 2010:

Angry neighbors want access to Mercy Housing project

Irate neighbors on Milwaukee’s east side stand between Mercy Housing Lakefront’s $12.7 million apartment building and a March 26 project deadline.

The Chicago-based developer needs preliminary city approval to buy a parking lot for the project. March 26 is the application deadline to receive state affordable-housing tax credits needed to pay for the project, and the developer cannot apply for the credits without the parking lot approval.

The development, planned for a triangular lot bordered by North Murray, East Thomas and North Farwell avenues, includes eight townhouses and a building with 75 apartments.

But associations representing neighborhoods around the site are trying to slow approval of the parking lot sale because, the groups argue, city government and the developers have not shared project details.

Mike Maierle, speaking on behalf of the Greenwich Village Neighborhood Association, on Tuesday told city aldermen there will be problems if the parking lot sale is approved before the neighborhood gets a look at the project.

“If you want to keep making people angry,” he told aldermen, “keep doing what you are doing.”

...

http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/03/09/angry-neighbors-want-access-to-mercy-housing-project/

MHL project Special Use Permit hearing at the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals meeting Monday April 11th

The Mercy Housing Lakefront application for a Special Use Permit will be on the agenda for the meeting of the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals on Monday April 11th at 7PM at Grayslake Village Hall, 10 South Seymour Street, Grayslake.


Mercy Housing Proposal - Special Use Permit Application


Public comments in writing can be mailed or delivered to:
Kirk Smith
Grayslake Zoning Officer
10 South Seymour
Grayslake, IL 60030
or call the Grayslake Village Hall at 847-223-8515

All persons in attendance at the hearing shall have an opportunity to be heard.  Any person who also wishes to appear as an "interested party" with the right to cross-examine others (and be cross-examined)  at the hearing must complete and file an appearance with the Village Zoning Officer Kirk Smith at the Village Hall, 10 South Seymour Avenue, Grayslake, Illinois 60030 or via e-mail at ksmith@villageofgrayslake.com no later than 12 noon on Monday, 11 April 2011.  Appearance forms are available at the Village Hall or at the Village website by clicking  Public Hearing Appearance Form.

See information on the Village of Grayslake web site at http://www.villageofgrayslake.com/index.aspx?NID=291

Grayslake Village Information on Mercy Housing Project

There is now a link on the Village of Grayslake web site for the Mercy Housing Proposal, for the first time the content of the Special Use Permit request going before the Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals at the meeting at 7PM on Monday April 11th.

http://www.villageofgrayslake.com/index.aspx?NID=291

Mercy Housing Lakefront Open House - Thursday April 7th 6:30PM

From Kirk Smith, Grayslake Zoning Officer:

At the request of the Village, Mercy Housing will be hosting an informal public information open house on Thursday April 7th from 6:30 to approximately 8. The meeting will be on the second floor of the Village Hall. This will be an opportunity for residents to discuss the project with Mercy Housing and provide written and/or oral comments. Date & Time: Thursday April 8th, 6:30PM Location: Grayslake Village Hall, 10 S. Seymour Ave. Grayslake, IL 60030 Street: Grayslake Village Hall, 10 S. Seymour Ave.  City State Zip: Grayslake, IL 60030  Phone: 847-223-8515

TribLocal: Proposed senior facility will host information session in advance of zoning decision

Proposed senior facility will host information session in advance of zoning decision

http://triblocal.com/grayslake/2011/04/04/proposed-senior-facility-will-host-information-session-in-advance-of-zoning-decision/

Daily Herald: Residents questioning Grayslake’s senior project

Story in the Daily Herald:


Residents questioning Grayslake’s handling of senior apartment plans


http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110331/news/703319770/

Lake County News-Sun: Grayslake senior housing hearing now April 11

A hearing on a special-use permit for a proposed senior housing development in Grayslake has been postponed to April 11.

Initially scheduled for Monday, the hearing by the Zoning Board of Appeals on a proposed 70-unit, 55-and-over facility for a parcel at Route 120 and Neville Road, has drawn criticism from at least one neighbor.

Mike Andrews, who lives in the 300 block of Belle Court, said he and others who live nearby were not notified by the village about the meeting, which someone discovered a posting at the village police station.

...
http://newssun.suntimes.com/news/4375059-418/grayslake-senior-housing-hearing-now-april-11.html

Trib-local: Neighbors seek information on low-income site in Grayslake

We talked to Megan Craig, a reporter for Trib Local, outside the original Grayslake Zoning Board of Appeals
meeting on Monday night, March 7th.

She did a great job on the story!

Neighbors seek information, input on proposed low-income senior facility in Grayslake
http://triblocal.com/grayslake/2011/03/16/neighbors-seek-information-input-on-pr\
oposed-low-income-senior-facility-in-grayslake/