As golfers hit the tees this spring for that coveted hole in one, the closed Green Acres Country Club on Dundee Road remains quiet.
But signs are posted loud and clear, including two large Northbrook Plan Commission notices of public hearing and a slim no trespassing warning along the club’s former entrance.
Squirrels and birdies can visit fairways of yesteryear. Golf enthusiasts would be human trespassers.
But don’t be fooled by the lack of balls or inactivity. The dormant acreage is active for redevelopment by Erickson Senior Living and was earnestly discussed at the April 11 Northbrook Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting by village trustees.
A donation of 73.62 acres would become Northbrook public open space with about 53 acres accommodating nine multistory connected senior living structures.
Many neighbors whose backyards border the site wish to preserve their view. Willing homeowners have met with Erickson Senior Living representatives this month.
A dedicated parcel could also cause Northbrook Fire Department Station 11 to move west to a new facility from its 740 Dundee Road address.
On Tuesday evening, trustees heard from developers about how the project could align with the village’s Inclusionary Housing Program and comply with ordinance requirements.
What was mostly favored by trustees was the fee-in-lieu pitch of $15 million paid by the applicant to a village affordable housing fund, instead of constructing mandatory affordable housing on-site units that would be cost prohibitive for low income seniors.
“We are so grateful to be able to help the Village of Northbrook actually succeed in their vision with a $15 million dedication for inclusionary housing and to be able to use that and access all different housing types and also to provide additional recreation and open space for the community,” said Scott Gensler, Erickson’s vice president, real estate acquisitions and government affairs, to Pioneer Press.
The $15 million could be used, “to develop a diverse, permanently affordable housing stock that could include single family and multifamily homes and units targeting a range of incomes,” according to a March 13, 2023 memo requested from affordable housing expert Amy Kaufman of Highland Park, director of development and community relations with CPAH, Community Partners for Affordable Housing of Libertyville and Highland Park.
“Units could be scattered throughout the community but could also be part of affordable housing development,” Kaufman wrote, identifying Highland Park’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund as a comparable model.
To Pioneer Press, Kaufman said, “This is a way, an alternative for the village, to be able to carry out their priorities and their goals and still have the development go forward because it was difficult.
“Kudos to the developer, they went back and really tried to come up with something that would make it work and I know there were a lot of conversations,” Kaufman said, “and you know, good for them that they found something that seems to work for all sides.”
Trustee Robert P. Israel indicated to Pioneer Press that Northbrook’s affordable housing stock should accommodate renters besides senior citizens, locating housing close to public transportation.
“We could use more workforce housing,” Israel said. “What would that look like to me?
“Some kind of housing facility with maybe one to three bedrooms similar in nature to what we’ve got at Crestwood Place that we could set up possibly with this money,” Israel said, “or get a good start on it with this money and allow people who work in the community to stay in the community.”
Trustee Joy U. Ebhomielen indicated at the dais a wish to, “also talk about single parents, (that) we also talk about divorcees.
“I’d like us to make sure we look at that and not, at the end of the day, exclude them,” Ebhomielen said.
How the donation of Erickson open space will be handled, and to which receiving entity or collaborative entities, are pending legalese decisions.
Molly Hamer, Northbrook Park District executive director, told Pioneer Press, “The former Green Acres Club property offers some exciting opportunities for recreation space and open space for our residents.
“Northbrook Park District continues to be in conversations with the village and Erickson Senior Living regarding the development and use of the property,” Hamer said. “We are excited by the possibility of protecting open space and providing new recreational opportunities that support the health and well-being of our residents.”
Northbrook Village President Kathryn L. Ciesla told developers from the dais on April 11, “I’ve got to look you all in the eyes and say, ‘Thank you.’
“For the Village of Northbrook to be offered $15 million, to take a property, 130 some acres, not only are you going to potentially donate 73 acres for public use to preserve the green space, is incredible, but to provide us with a contribution of $15 million toward our affordable housing initiative, is phenomenal,” Ciesla said.
“It is a win for the community like no other and I can’t thank you enough for sticking with it and really sharpening your pencils and working so hard with us to come up with something that is significantly cooler and more interesting and better and really is more of a fit for us,” Ciesla said.
The Board of Trustees and Plan Commission are scheduled to have a May 9 joint public hearing about Erickson Senior Living.
Following the public hearing, there is a possibility of the final documents recommending approval or denial of the matter to appear on the May 23 Board of Trustees agenda.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
