Lockport Council to vote on 120-unit senior facility in cornfield
Heritage Woods plans to build a three-story assisted living center on 18.65 acres of farmland near 163rd Street and Gougar Road.
By Ethan Cooper ·
The Lockport City Council will vote Wednesday on the final development plan for an assisted living facility on the city's southeast edge. The project is set to replace a current cornfield with a three-story building housing 120 residents.
The site is located north of 163rd Street and east of Gougar Road. It is currently zoned for agricultural use. The council must rezone the property for multi-family residential development to allow the construction to proceed.
Heritage Woods is the developer behind the project. The company operates similar facilities in Bolingbrook, Chicago, Plainfield, Huntley, Minooka, and Manteno. This would be the only dedicated senior living facility within Lockport city limits.
The building will contain 46 studio apartments and 74 one-bedroom units. All units are designed for individuals or couples over the age of 65. Each unit includes a kitchenette, private bathroom, and accessible features. The facility will accept both private pay and Medicaid clients. It will provide support services and medical assistance but will not be a licensed memory care facility.
City documents state that only 7.4 acres of the 18.65-acre parcel will be developed for the building and parking. The remaining land will consist of native grass open space, a walking path, and a large detention basin. The building will also feature indoor and outdoor recreational amenities for residents.
Lance Thies, the director of Community and Economic Development, told the Planning and Zoning Commission that the final plan is identical to the preliminary version approved by the council last year. The commission voted unanimously to recommend the plan for approval. Officials noted that the traffic impact would be minimal because many residents will use a property-operated shuttle. Heritage Woods stated that no more than 24 staff members will be on site at any given time.
The age-restricted residency ensures the development will not impact local schools. The plan has been placed on the consent agenda for the upcoming Wednesday meeting.
