Covenant Living of Northbrook’s plan to build carriage homes at its Techny Road senior development has raised the ire of area neighbors who turned out in opposition at the Aug. 8 board of trustees meeting.
Covenant Living has been purchasing residential homes along Covenant’s property to the east in the Greenview Road neighborhood and are seeking zoning variances and other measures to construct its highly promoted three-story Carriage Homes series.
According to Realtor.com, a carriage home is a single-family dwelling that occupies a lot barely larger than the structure and is similar to condos or townhomes because they share a wall.
The Covenant Living website states that the Carriage Homes are almost fully reserved. “Become a charter member today” urges the website at https://www.covlivingnorthbrook.org/senior-living-community-chicago/carriage-homes/. The website boasts of the planned homes high ceilings, balconies and stylish finishes and range in size from approximately 1,250 square feet to 1600 square feet.
“The model retirement has a whole new model and it’s coming to Covenant Living of Northbrook,” the website promises. “Almost 100 % reserved! Don’t miss out.”
However, the Covenant Living expansion has not yet been voted on by the Board of Trustees as a necessary step in Northbrook’s plan review process.
Muriel J. Collison, the board’s Planning and Economic Development Committee chair, expressed disdain about a letter distributed by Covenant Village to possible Carriage Homes residents.
Collison described correspondence by Covenant Village that, “sort of blamed the village for how long it’s taking to get the units up and going.”
“I would appreciate it if you would not do that anymore,” Collison said from the dais to Covenant Living representatives. “Our job is hard enough, we don’t need, you know, that kind of using the Village as a scapegoat.”
“That was really upsetting to me to see that,” Collison added.
Covenant Village has taken reservation money from people wanting to reside in the proposed Carriage Homes. One Northbrook couple who attended the Aug. 8 meeting spoke in favor of the project and indicated their Carriage Homes reservation deposit is refundable.
Nearby homeowners along Covenant Living claim that public notice was not timely and sufficient to alert neighbors about Covenant’s intent.
As of Aug. 9, white official notice signs were visible along Covenant Living property.
Concerns pointed to the facility’s current population of more than 500 residents and the impact of increased 911 first responder calls with newcomers. Covenant Living experiences hundreds of emergency calls annually.
Affordable housing is a variable. Covenant Living is offering $675,000 to the village’s affordable trust fund.
The carriage homes request by Covenant Village spurred discussion about how the existing facility in its entirety competes with other for-profit senior living communities its size.
Collison would like Covenant Living to provide a master plan to address dated facilities, besides focusing on three new buildings and other upgrades in the current request.
“There needs to be something done overall for Covenant Village,” Collison said. “In my opinion, there needs to be something done for every unit,” Collison said, ” … to bring them up to the standard of which the other senior developments are.”
Many residents lined up to speak at the podium during the public hearing portion. Some described Covenant Living as a bad neighbor who rarely communicates.
Several Greenview Road neighbors charge that Covenant Village has overpaid for the residential property it wanted and has stacked property purchases to help meet stormwater detention requirements to accommodate the three new buildings and 36 residential units.
They are also angry Covenant Living wants to move and reconfigure an existing creek significantly closer to Greenview Road backyards.
One neighbor stated that residential sump pumps will be working 24/7 with backyards potentially flooded by a relocated stream system. They also want the current houses that Covenant Living recently bought to be maintained with no flooded basements and not left unoccupied or dark.
Covenant Living representatives said house structures will be kept and rented possibly to staff. Neighbors objected to what they feared would be transient renters who are not consistent occupants or homeowners.
Trustee Daniel H. Pepoon said, “We have to work together to make this thing work. It’s very disappointing the amount of EMT (911) calls that get brought to Covenant Village, he said. “You absolutely have to have a better plan in place for the whole property so that you can be a better neighbor to the community.”
Pepoon also noted he thought that Covenant Living has overall been a “trusted neighbor” in Northbrook.
“You’re so valued,” Pepoon said, but, “I feel that there’s a chink in that armor. You need to restore it.”
Covenant Living representatives declined to comment to Pioneer Press after the meeting.
Greenview Road resident Maureen Alpert spoke at the podium and said how trust is important to any business model.
“I think the trustees heard the neighbors,” Alpert said. “I don’t think anyone who has a home would like to know that their street is being rezoned to multiple family homes when we’re single family owned lots.”
The Covenant Living request will go to a board Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting for workshop discussion.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
