For Immediate Release

November 12, 2015                                                                              

Contact:

Pat Rush, Presence Health, 815.773.7059

Alva Winfrey Kennedy, Mercy Housing Lakefront, 312.447.4545

Partnership Launches River Station Senior Apartments

New Development is Collaboration by City of Kankakee, Mercy Housing Lakefront, Presence St. Mary’s Hospital, Housing Authority, McColly Bennett and Heritage Development

(Kankakee, Illinois)—Kankakee Mayor Nina Epstein announced plans for the development of a new Kankakee River Station Senior Apartment building at a November 12 press conference with project partners at Presence St. Mary’s Hospital (PSMH).  The City of Kankakee is working in collaboration with PSMH, Mercy Housing Lakefront (MHL), Housing Authority of Kankakee County (HAKC), JH2B Architects, Inc., McColly Bennett and Heritage Development and Construction, Inc. to bring high quality, affordable housing for low-to-moderate-income independent seniors and seniors with disabilities to the West Downtown area of Kankakee.

“The City of Kankakee is pleased to announce the beginning of the Kankakee Senior Apartment development in our West Downtown area,” said Mayor Epstein.   “The City and our partners have been working very hard to make this project possible, and I would like to thank our partners for their commitment to our vision.  This is not only a big step in the redevelopment of West Downtown, but a significant advancement in providing outstanding housing and health options for our seniors.”

The development is a $16 million investment with 70 apartments, all one-bedrooms, for singles or couples.  The KHDC will provide rental assistance for approximately 60% of the households, including 14 apartments for people with disabilities.  The remainder of the apartments will be affordable and available to households with incomes at or below $24,800 (for a single person household).

In addition to providing affordable living for seniors, the project will support healthy aging by including an on-site clinic provided by PSMH. The clinic will be open to all members of the community.

“The City’s neighborhood revitalization strategy supports our belief that adequate housing is inextricably linked to a community’s health and well-being,” said Presence Health South Suburban Region President and CEO Kathleen Rhine.  “This is especially true for vulnerable populations like our elderly and those on limited incomes.”

Presence St. Mary’s Hospital donated land and brought MHL into collaboration with the City of Kankakee to help make River Station Senior Apartments a reality.  MHL is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit, affordable housing organizations.  They participate in the development, preservation, management and financing of affordable, program-enriched housing across the country.  MHL serves a variety of populations with housing projects for low-income families, seniors and people with special needs.

“Mercy Housing is proud to be a part of this special project, and we look forward to beginning construction,” said Mark Angelini, President and CEO of MHL.  “Our goal at MHL is always to create stable, vibrant and healthy communities by developing, financing and operating affordable, program-enriched housing.  With the help of our partners, River Station Senior Apartments is a shining example of that.”

On-site amenities will include a computer room, fitness area, laundry and storage rooms, property management, resident services offices and healthcare.  Construction is set to begin this winter and the project is expected to be completed in late 2016.

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