Vernon Hills Reviews Plans for Alzheimer’s Facility

Vernon Hills officials reviewed a proposal last week to construct a memory care facility in the village.

Texas-based South Bay Partners is seeking approval to build a single-story building containing 66 rentable units just south of the Walter E. Smithe store on Milwaukee Avenue. The facility would provide services to Alzheimer’s patients. 

“We’ve got Wealshire, we’ve got Autumn Leaves; is there a market?” asked Trustee James Schultz.

“We believe there is,” South Bay Partners representative Patrick McGonigle replied.

South Bay developed similar facilities in Plainfield, Joliet, Urbana, Champaign and Springfield.

The company would own the Vernon Hills facility, McGonigle said. It has not yet purchased the property, he said. The facility would employ about 40 people.

Last week’s preliminary review was only the first step in the process. To gain approval, the seven-acre property would require rezoning and the facility would need a special use permit. It would first undergo technical review by village staff, which would look at detention and driveway locations before being considering by the Planning and Zoning Commission.