ENGLEWOOD — Thanks to a combination of private and public money, 24 seniors are moving into new affordable senior housing that’s two blocks away from the soon-to-be Englewood Whole Foods Market.
Board members for Sangamon Terrace, 6145 S. Sangamon St., were joined by Ald. Toni Foulkes (16th), Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-3rd), financiers and the community on Friday to celebrate the building’s ribbon cutting ceremony. The new community room was dedicated to the late Ald. JoAnn Thompson (16th). Family of the late alderman attended the ceremony.
Thompson's daughter, Melanie, said she believes her mother “sees” the finished project and that she would be happy with the work.
Foulkes said she could imagine if Thompson were at the ceremony.
“She probably wouldn’t have said too much, but she would have just smiled,” she said. “She would have been dressed to the max and she would have been working that room.”
Foulkes said she has no intention of taking credit for this project because it was Thompson’s doing, but she will do her part now that it has fallen into her lap.
“I would never stand up and take credit for something my colleague did,” Foulkes said. “I would never do that, so I’m proud of her for what she did and she got it this far, now I’m going to take it the rest of the way.”
Foulkes said she would like to see more affordable senior housing in the ward.
Friday’s attendees listened to speakers talk about the project and were later entertained by four members from the South Shore Drill Team. The event turned into a party with a live band and food and drinks.
Sangamon Terrace is next door to Bethel Terrace, but Veronica Payne, president of Sangamon Terrace and treasurer of Bethel Terrace, said the old building didn’t offer enough space for residents. The idea for the project started five years ago and Thompson was a big supporter, Payne said.
Bethel Terrace has 122 units, but its community room could seat only 50.
“We have never had a meeting where we could have the entire building to come down,” she said. “We have never all sat in a room together, but now we’ll be able to do that.”
Payne said the community room was dedicated to Thompson because she played an important role in the project and she cared about the residents.
“JoAnn became a dear friend,” Payne said. “She never forgot Bethel Terrace. ... She always stopped by to check on the seniors. She had a love for" them.
The new building has a larger community room, laundry on every floor, a computer lab and a beauty salon for residents. The amenities will be shared by those still living in Bethel.
Chicago-based Evergreen Real Estate Services is the co-developer of Sangamon Terrace, as well as the property manager for both Bethel and Sangamon. The firm’s president Steve Rappin said the total development cost totaled somewhere between $8.8 million and $9 million. Some of the funding came from the City of Chicago, Citibank and the department of Housing and Urban Development.
“Affordable housing is incredibly needed,” Rappin said. “I just think the design of the building is beautiful and it’s really going to enhance the lives of the residents.”
Englewood resident Donald Wade, 66, a recent retiree, is one of the 24 people moving into Sangamon Terrace.
“I like the whole place,” he said, adding that the computer lab will be beneficial.
Michele Bergman is putting her 81-year-old father into the building.
“I think it’s open and it’s bright and I’m looking forward to my father actually moving here” she said. “He was in the community, in a home, but the home got to be too much for him so it was time to downsize.”
She said it’s affordable and she likes that there’s security.
Payne said that quality, affordable senior housing is needed and it’s nice to have it right in Englewood.
“I’ve lived in Englewood all of my life,” she said. “I’ve seen it come and go on more than one occasion. I truly believe that Englewood is on the move.”
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