New Facility Will Care for 200 of the Nation’s Heroes
CHICAGO – September 22, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Pat Quinn today broke ground on the $70.5 million Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago. The 200-bed facility will be the fifth veterans’ home in the state and the first in Chicago. Today’s action is part of Governor Quinn’s longstanding commitment to honor and support the men and women who have served our nation.
“All of us on the homefront have a duty to take care of those who have borne the battle,” Governor Quinn said. “More than half of Illinois’ veterans live in the Chicago area, and this new facility will greatly benefit these heroes and their families. Our new veterans’ home in Chicago will provide care and support for 200 of our nation’s heroes and create hundreds of jobs for hardworking Illinois residents.”
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has approved federal reimbursement for up to 65 percent of the eligible construction costs on the project. This means as much as $45.8 million of the construction cost could be covered by the federal government.
The five-story home will feature single occupancy rooms with private bathrooms and common areas for dining and meeting with visitors. The facility will be built to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver standards, a testament to its energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly design. The construction project will be managed by the Illinois Capital Development Board.
Construction will begin by early October on 7.8 acres of land at the southwest corner of Forest Preserve Drive and Oak Park Avenue. The location was selected because of its proximity to the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital and its accessibility to public transportation. Units will provide special long-term care for veterans with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Construction is scheduled for completion in mid 2016.
“The start of construction on the Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago is a great step forward,” Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) Acting Director Rodrigo Garcia said. “Thanks to Governor Quinn’s leadership and commitment to serving those who have served, Chicago-area veterans will have a chance to access the great quality of care and the caring, patriotic environment we offer at our four existing Homes.”
“There is no more important building being constructed in the state of Illinois than this one,” Capital Development Board Executive Director Jim Underwood said. “We are honored to oversee the construction of this home that will care for heroes who answered the call to serve.”
The Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago will be operated by IDVA, which also supervises veterans’ homes in Anna, LaSalle, Manteno and Quincy. IDVA also operates the Prince Home, a 15-bed permanent supportive housing facility for homeless and disabled veterans at Manteno. When completed and after recognition of the Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago, the Department will be able to receive USDVA per diem payments that will provide over one quarter of the annual operating budget of the home.
