Construction on Algonquin senior facility could start soon

Denver-based Spectrum Retirement communities has been cleared to start construction on a senior living facility in Algonquin.

This clearance follows a pre-construction meeting held earlier this summer consisting of the utilities department, public works departments and developers.

The 30-acre site that will house the community named Algonquin Senior Living was annexed to the village in May 2017, and the village board voted to approve the senior living facility last fall. It will be located south of Harnish Drive and west of Randall Road.

Russ Farnum, community development director for the village of Algonquin, said discussions about the senior living facility have been going on for “well over a year.”

“We’re anxious for them to get started,” he said.

This meeting was meant for the developers to coordinate construction, though Spectrum has not yet said when it will begin.

In addition, Farnum said they have not mowed or staked out the site where they are going to be doing the work yet.

“It should be soon, I imagine,” Farnum said, though he added that he doesn’t think anything’s “imminent.” “They’re getting bids and coordinating that end of the project right now.”

A representative from Spectrum Retirement could not immediately be reached for comment.

Farnum said Spectrum does want to get most of the grading and site work done this fall. This also includes installing underground water and sewer mains.

“[The project] is on schedule as far as I understand,” Farnum said.

According to the minutes of a July 16 Village Board meeting, the contractor was made aware of traffic at Jacobs High School. Farnum said they will take measures to avoid conflicts between construction traffic, teenage driver traffic, parent drop-offs, night events and other “potential complications.”

Algonquin Senior Living will feature 162 senior living residences, with apartments ranging in size from studios to two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,000-square- foot homes.

Spectrum is one of the nation’s largest senior living providers, with Illinois locations in Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Cary and Streamwood, among others.