A new senior residence officially opened in Franklin Park last week, but anyone looking to get in there should move fast.
There are 80 units at the Leyden Senior Apartments and 23 have people moved in already. And, according to Jenny Calero, senior project manager at Evergreen Real Estate Group, there’s a waiting list of several hundred.
The ribbon cutting was Oct. 28.
In short, there was a need for affordable senior housing in the area.
Calero said Leyden Township leadership approached the developers with a request for senior housing because, she said, the market was obvious. The township includes nine municipalities and is home to over 90,000 people. Many of those folks are getting older.
“A lot of what we see is older families that are downsizing and have that need to go down to the one bedroom or two bedroom,” Calero said. High taxes plus wealth tied up in a home that’s too big all make smaller, more affordable options popular. Meanwhile, the township gets a 2.5 acre plot of land developed and credits for affordable housing, and it keeps its residents local.
The rent is calculated based on the percentage of median income, so a person making about half the area’s average income would pay about $1,000 for a one-bedroom. Residents must be at least 62 years old to apply.
The four-story development on Mannheim Road comes with a public senior center that, while built as part of the development deal, will be run by local government. The Carl Fiorito Senior Center will be open to the public and offer a variety of programming. The apartments are also within walking distance of convenience stores, a Denny’s restaurant and a bus route.
Besides the senior center, the facility has reading rooms, laundry facilities on each floor, a workout room and a common area.
More Top Picks Experience Ultimate Peace With The Best Noise Cancelling Earphones Your Solution For Enhanced Focus And Relaxation
Calero said it’s a model of good public and private partnership. The deal came together in 2023.
Leyden Township Supervisor Rocco Biscaglio said in a news release the project works because it beautifies the area and benefits senior residents.
“Revitalizing Mannheim Road begins with investing in the people who matter most,” he said. “This is just the beginning of a brighter future for Leyden Township.”
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.