Construction is underway for Heritage Woods of Minooka, a new affordable assisted living community that Gardant will manage.
The community, which will be located at 701 Heritage Woods Drive behind Jewel in Minooka, is expected to open next spring. It will serve older adults of all incomes, including those on Medicaid, who need some help to maintain their independence.
Property for the project was purchased more than a decade ago with hopes of bringing affordable assisted living to the area. The groundbreaking ceremony last month was a “truly a testament to the will, effort and desire to bring this project to this area,” said Chris Ward, one of the developers for the project.
Heritage Woods will operate through the Illinois Supportive Living Program, which provides a residential alternative to nursing homes.
The three-story building is 83,000 square feet and will house 101 studio and one-bedroom apartments. Each of the private apartments 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, Heritage Woods of Minooka will have community areas, including a dining room, fitness area and library.
Certified nursing assistants, working under the direction of a licensed nurse, will be on-duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Minooka Board President Pat Brennan said he is glad this senior housing project has persevered and is coming to the village. Several years ago, when his mother turned 95 and realized she needed some assistance, he began searching for an assisted living community. He found a place in Joliet but says he wished there would have been one closer to his home.
“What a great advantage for the people of Minooka to have a place right here at home where they can take their elders, know that it is a wonderful facility and that their loved ones will be taken care of,” Brennan said.
Worn Jerabek Wiltse Architects, PC, which has offices in Chicago and Champaign, is the architectural firm. Horve Builders, of Forsyth, Illinois, is the general contractor for the $18 million project.
When fully occupied, the community will provide 50 to 55 full-time and part-time jobs. Annual payroll with benefits is projected to be nearly $1.5 million.
Rod Burkett, CEO of Gardant, said he is looking forward to serving the older adults who will move into the community, which is being built as a result of partnerships between local, state and federal entities.
Heritage Woods of Minooka will join more than 40 other communities operated by Gardant Management Solutions, including the Heritage Woods buildings in Bolingbrook, Dwight, Plainfield and Yorkville. Gardant is the largest assisted living provider in Illinois and the 14th largest provider in the nation.
Individuals interested in having their names added to the interest list to obtain further information about Heritage Woods of Minooka can call 1-877-882-1495.
