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Residents clash over Black Road apartments as Shorewood hears concerns about traffic and schools
Summary
Public comment at the June 9 meeting split between residents and housing advocates: realtors and some local planners urged multifamily housing to retain young workers while many neighbors warned a 149‑unit project would worsen traffic, overcrowd schools and strain emergency access.
Nearly two dozen residents and stakeholders addressed the Shorewood Village Board during public comment on June 9, offering sharply different views of a proposed 149‑unit multifamily development on Black Road.
Nora Gruenberg, government affairs director for the 3 Rivers Association of Realtors, urged the board to support housing diversity and told the board that "Will County is losing almost 1,000 residents between 18 and 35 every year" because of limited housing options. By contrast, River Crossing resident Betty Kapista said the lot is too small for a 150‑unit complex and warned of inadequate parking and single ingress/egress, saying the location is "at the wrong location." Several neighbors, including Dave Blasky (HOA president), described existing peak congestion where motorists already wait through multiple signal cycles and argued the project will add hundreds of daily vehicle movements.
Speakers on both sides tied their remarks to specific impacts: traffic volume estimates, school district capacity and the village’s zoning code. The board closed public comment after hearing both union members and neighbors, then moved into staff and developer presentations that answered many of the numerical questions raised by commenters.
