Affordable Housing Proposal Dropped

A plan for affordable housing units to be constructed at the site of the former American Legion post in Wilmette has been withdrawn, but that doesn’t mean residents who oppose the idea are totally in the clear.

“We have heard the concerns of the community and based on issues raised we would like to take time to respond thoughtfully and consider modifications to better meet the needs of Wilmette families,” Richard Koenig, executive director of the Housing Opportunity Development Corporation, wrote in a letter to the village of Wilmette Monday. “We will hold a series of community outreach meetings over the next months to listen to suggestions and answer questions. We anticipate coming back with a new application which addresses the concerns of the community.”

Koenig and the HODC had planned on having 10 studio and 10 one-bedroom units available at an affordable housing cost at the site, 1925 Wilmette Ave. It had been the first time affordable housing units had been proposed in the village in more than a decade.