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.