Construction set to begin on affordable senior housing in St. Charles

ST. CHARLES – Construction is now underway on Anthony Place at Prairie Centre, an affordable senior living community, in St. Charles. A ground breaking ceremony was held June 13 for the four-story development near the intersection of Prairie Street and Randall Road.

According to a news release, the property will be named after Anthony Grande, the father of Ralph Grande, co-developer of Anthony Place at Prairie Centre, who passed away in 2014.

Anthony Place at Prairie Centre is part of a larger 27-acre redevelopment, formerly the St. Charles Mall site, by the Shodeen Group known as Prairie Centre that was rezoned to accommodate a mix of for-sale and luxury rental housing, as well as neighborhood retail and restaurants in mixed-use buildings.

When complete, Anthony Place will be have 74 units of affordable senior housing plus one live-in manager’s unit. The one- and two-bedroom apartments will be age restricted to those 55 years and older and will include indoor parking, common gathering areas such as a community kitchen and patio, a gym, a library and a crafts room.

Fifteen units will be for those making 30% or below the area median income, and 12 of those 15 units will serve seniors with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness who are referred to the development by the Statewide Referral Network. Five units will be for those making 50% or below AMI, and the remaining 54 units will serve seniors with incomes 60% or below AMI.

“On behalf of the St. Charles City Council and city staff, I am pleased GC Housing Development, working with the Shodeen Group, chose St. Charles to construct affordable senior housing at Anthony Place at Prairie Centre,” stated St. Charles Mayor Raymond Rogina in the news release. “Providing affordable senior housing options is vital for area seniors and important for our community.”

"The St. Charles Housing Commission has spent years tweaking and finalizing our Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, the first of its kind in the TriCities," stated Rita Payleitner, 2nd Ward alderman and Housing Commission Council liaison. "It is nice to finally see something tangible to this scale that proves the city's continued commitment to providing affordable housing."

Construction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2020.