Affordable Housing Development Breaks Ground In Deerfield

DEERFIELD, IL — Calling it a project "long in the making" at a recent Deerfield Village Board meeting, Mayor Dan Shapiro and other local leaders broke ground last week on an affordable residential development near Zion Lutheran Evangelical Church. The 25-unit development began as a mission for the church at 10 Deerfield Road. Zion Lutheran is donating over eight acres of land located directly behind the church.

Officials said Zion Woods will offer housing for families who work in the Deerfield area, but cannot afford to live here, as well as for people living with disabilities. For the latter, the new development will afford them the freedom to live independently near their support networks.

Representatives from Housing Opportunity Development Corporation and Brinshore Development participated in the April 23 ceremony. Construction began in March and will conclude next year, according to HODC.

The Village said 13 units will be available to households whose annual incomes do not exceed 50 percent of the Chicago area median income only, while another 11 will only be available to households where annual incomes do not exceed 60 percent of the Chicago area median income.

For the 25 homes, 13 will feature one bedroom/one bath, seven will have 2 bedrooms/2 baths, and five units will have 3 bedrooms/2 baths. Residents will live independently while also paying rents they can afford. Richard Koenig, executive director of HODC, told Crain's Chicago Business the cost of rent for the two-bedroom units will be between $550 to $950 a month.

The project originally was to consist of 48 units, but has been scaled back over the years since it was first proposed in 2013. The Deerfield Village Board voted in 2018 to move forward with Zion Woods despite some opposition from residents living nearby.

Managed by HODC, the site will consist of a two-story, 12 unit building, and a two-story, 13-unit building. The remainder of the site will include open space and also function as detention sites. HODC said the project will protect wetland habitat and the buildings will be certified green.

Property features, according to HODC, include:

• a management office
• a play lot
• secure bicycle parking
• a community garden
• scenic river views
• security cameras
• Green certified with Energy Star appliances

To learn more about Zion Woods, check out the HODC website here.

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