A groundbreaking ceremony was held last week for The Montclare at Lawndale, a new affordable assisted living community that Gardant Management Solutions will operate.
The community, which will be located in Chicago’s Lawndale neighborhood next to Unity Park, is expected to open next year. It will serve older adults of all incomes, including those on Medicaid, who need some help to maintain their independence. It is designed to especially benefit low-income seniors.
This “is a great day in Lawndale, especially for our seniors,” said Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele, who served as master of ceremonies for the groundbreaking.
The development is able to move ahead, Steele said, because of a partnership that was created between private industry and the City of Chicago, state and federal governments.
Funding sources for the $27.7 million project include a loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, City of Chicago HOME Funds, a TIF grant, and an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grant.
The community will operate through the Illinois Supportive Living Program, which provides a residential alternative to nursing homes.
“It has been a long-time coming,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “By investing in senior housing, we are investing in the community.”
The five-story, 108,000 square-foot building will house 120 private studio and one-bedroom apartments. Each of the private apartments at The Montclare will feature a kitchenette, spacious bathroom with shower and grab bars, individually-controlled heating and air conditioning units, and an emergency alert system.
In addition, The Montclare will have community areas, including a dining room, movie theater and fitness area.
Certified nursing assistants, working under the direction of a licensed nurse, will be on-duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The community will be managed by Gardant Management Solutions. It will further expand Gardant’s mission of providing residents with the love, compassion and dignity they deserve, in addition to the help with medication and personal assistance they need, said Rod Burkett, President and CEO of Gardant.
“I know the value of this type of project,” said Sen. Patricia Van Pelt, whose district also includes the Heritage Woods of Chicago affordable assisted living community managed by Gardant.
For the seniors who live in Lawndale, The Montclare is a blessing because it means they “will not have to go far” to live in a community that operates through the Supportive Living Program, said Rep. Arthur Turner Jr.
Construction of the community is being accomplished through a joint venture involving Safeway Construction, Brown Construction Co., Inc., and the Joseph J. Duffy Company.
When fully occupied, the community will provide 55 to 60 full-time and part-time jobs. Annual payroll with benefits is projected to be $1.9 million.
The Montclare will join more than 40 other communities operated by Gardant Management Solutions. Gardant is the largest assisted living provider in Illinois and the 14th largest provider in the nation. In Chicago, Gardant also operates Beth Anne Place and Churchview Supportive Living.
Individuals interested in having their names added to the interest list to obtain further information about The Montclare can call 1-877-882-1495 toll-free.
