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Housing authority outlines $18 million senior redevelopment for North Wildwood site
Summary
The Kankakee County Housing Authority presented plans May 4 for a senior-focused redevelopment on North Wildwood that would replace existing public housing with duplex and triplex units funded largely through tax credits; presenters said the project needs about $1 million in local or grant funding to fill a financing gap.
Joseph Anderson, executive director of the Kankakee County Housing Authority, and development consultant Jim Carroll presented a proposal May 4 to replace aging public-housing units in the North Wildwood area with a new senior development for residents 62 and older.
The project would demolish existing units on two city blocks and build one-story duplexes and triplexes, the presenters said. Carroll described the planned mix as 31 one-bedroom units and 10 two-bedroom units and said the development would be financed through the long-term housing tax credit program in partnership with the Illinois Housing Development Authority. "The total investment will be at least $18,000,000 into the city of Kankakee," Carroll said.
Why it matters: If awarded tax credits, the project would add senior-specific affordable housing in a neighborhood near Myrtle, Chestnut and Locust and could reuse existing infrastructure while aiming for green-certified, low-emission homes.
Carroll and Anderson told the committee the applicants submitted a preliminary project application (PPA) to IDA and expect announcements in mid-to-late June; if the project receives a reservation, they would begin engineering reports and pursue a planned 2027 construction start with about a 14-month build timeline and resident move-ins in 2028. "So assuming we do get our reservation in June, we would immediately invest into our engineering reports, our plans and specs," Carroll said.
Presenters also discussed tenant protections and relocation. Anderson said HUD relocation guidelines would be followed and that the project would cover relocation costs and aim to "make the families whole." Carroll added the new project would include a tenant-solution plan giving displaced tenants a first right of refusal to reapply for the new units.
Financing questions: Carroll said the development currently shows about a $1,000,000 budget gap that could be covered by state grants or local funds and suggested the city consider permit-fee reductions or local contributions to improve the application’s competitiveness. "That gap can be filled a number of different ways," Carroll said.
Infrastructure and next steps: Committee members asked whether new streets or alleys would be necessary; Carroll said he did not anticipate new street construction. Presenters said final engineering and site plans are pending and that more detailed configuration would follow after tax-credit reservation and engineering.
The committee did not vote on the project; presenters requested the committee's support and said they would return with further details after the June tax-credit announcements.
