Apartment complex for disabled residents will be built in Worth

By Joe Boyle

Financing has been approved for a three-story apartment complex for adults with disabilities who will reside in Worth.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority approved the financing for the Garden Center Apartments in March. The official finance closing will occur in March of 2024. Construction will begin immediately after the official closing.

The construction project will take nearly 16 months to complete. According to representatives of the Garden Center, residents will occupy the apartment complex by early fall of 2025.

The Worth Village Board approved a purchase and sale agreement with Garden Center Services concerning property located southeast of the intersection of Crandall Avenue and Depot Street in November.

The ordinance had to be approved then because Garden Center Services representatives said that they had a deadline of Dec. 16 to begin work on the project in Worth.

“This board should be incredibly proud of how you have accepted people with disabilities,” said Gerry Beagles, executive director of Garden Center Services, during the Worth Village Board meeting on Tuesday night.

“Worth has been so inviting and so great to work with,” Beagles added.

Garden Center representatives said they chose Worth because residents who would live in the apartment don’t drive. The residents would be close to 111th Street and in the vicinity of grocery stores and a variety of businesses. They would be in walking distance to Metra and bus service.

Garden Center Services was established in 1956 as a grassroots effort to support children with development disabilities and their families. The organization began operating above a garage at Reavis High School in Burbank and has now developed into a multi-program agency to provide services to adults with disabilities.

WJW Architects will be working on the project. They provided a presentation at the meeting to explain the construction process. The three-story complex will include a six-foot privacy fence to be located in the front yard along Depot Street.

The board approved three ordinances linked to the project, including allowing zoning variances. One of the ordinances approved the 16-unit multifamily residential development on the property.

The Garden Center Apartments will include off-street parking and an outdoor garden.

In other news, another ordinance was approved for the purchase and sale agreement concerning property located southwest of Neenah Avenue and east of Interstate 294. Muersch Properties in Worth is acquiring the property for future development.

Trustee Brad Urban, who is the head of the Public Works Committee, said that effective June 1, residents will see an increase in water rates. Worth is provided with water through Chicago. Water costs will go up an additional 5%.

Overnight parking by semi-trucks is being reviewed. The board would like to eliminate overnight parking by some trucks along Oak Park Avenue near Peaks Park. Similar restrictions are being looked at to stop semi-trucks from parking overnight in the Water’s Edge Golf Course lot.

Another ordinance was approved for an intergovernmental agreement between the village and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for the design, planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of a flood control project in the Worth subdivision.

The project will take about 12 months to prevent flooding in the area. Excess water will go into the Lucas-Berg Nature Preserve waters.

“Finally,” said Mayor Mary Werner. “We have been talking about this for 12 years.”

Werner also presented a proclamation for safe boating. Werner said the village supports the goals of the Safe Boating Campaign and proclaimed May 20-26 as Safe Boating Week.

Trustees Pete Kats, Kevin Ryan and Laura Packwood were sworn in for another term after winning the April 4 consolidated election. Kats did not attend the meeting but was sworn in remotely by Village Clerk Bonnie Price. The trustees were unopposed.

Packwood, who is the head of the golf committee, said that a contract has been agreed upon for the Water’s Edge Golf Course Clubhouse and cart barn to be painted. A company out of Georgia will do the painting, according to Orion, who serves as the manager of the golf course.

The board also approved the new owner of Lagos Lounge Chicago, which replaces the previous owners of the Garden Chalet at 11000 S. Ridgeland Ave. However, Dr. Tune Ali, the owner of Lagos Lounge Chicago, said the facility will remain a banquet hall.

Ali said the facility will be only used as a banquet hall and not a lounge. The new owner said they plan not to make any big changes. The manager who worked for Garden Chalet plans to stay on to work for Lagos Lounge Chicago.

“I’m really happy about that,” Packwood said. “I’m glad it is going to stay a banquet hall.