$10.9 million senior living facility breaks ground at Swansea MetroLink station
Officials formally broke ground today on Metro Landing of Swansea, a $10.9 million senior apartment project adjacent to the MetroLink station in Swansea.
The project is designed to be both affordable, independent living for the residents and a useful, readily available transportation option, and it is the result of cooperation of numerous parties, including federal, state and local governments and other stakeholders.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, participated in this morning’s event, along with state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Belleville, Sen. James Claiborne, D-Belleville, and many others.
The project is being developed by Southwestern Illinois Development Authority in partnership with Bywater Development Group and Bi-State Development.
Most of the financing was state tax credits secured from the Illinois Housing Development Authority with additional construction financing from PNC Bank.
Additional support came from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Ameren, along with the St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department.
Metro Landing will feature 62, one-and two-bedroom units. The presence of the transit facility will allow residents to take advantage of MetroLink’s trains and buses to get to venues across the St. Louis metropolitan area. The station is also located on the MetroBikeLink trail.
Mayor Mike Leopold said he expects the project to be a catalyst, noting that numerous inquiries have been made about other potential development in the Metro Landing of Swansea area.
The project is expected to be open in spring of 2019.
Speaking at the groundbreaking event, SWIDA Chairman James Nations commented, “You’ll hear the word partner a lot today, as this project required the collaboration and support of a number of entities, including not just our development and financing partners, but also St. Clair County Transit District and the village of Swansea. Metro Landing of Swansea is truly an example of how public and private partnerships, coupled with broad community support, can lead to a significant community benefit. As the need for quality senior housing continues to grow, this project is an excellent way for SWIDA to contribute to the region’s active senior housing choices.”
John Nations, the president and chief executive offficer of Bi-State Development, and not related to James Nations, said the project “is a testament to the positive benefits and value the Metro transit system brings to the entire bi-state region.”
Mike Lundy, executive director of SWIDA, said, “It has been great working with Bi-State Development to move this development forward. We have all worked extremely hard to get to this milestone today and we look forward to delivering a terrific development for the village of Swansea.”
mmunity and enrich what we have to offer to existing and potential residents and businesses.”
Aaron Burnett, president of Bywater Development Group, said, “Metro Landing of Swansea will serve as a model for transit-oriented senior housing that creates both a positive impact on the community and an ideal living environment for its residents. It is reflective of a very strong and effective public/private partnership and our organization is honored to be a part of this collective effort.”
“This is a smart project that makes use of existing transit infrastructure and investment,” said John Langa, Vice President of Economic Development for Bi-State Development. “Additional thanks also needs to go to the Federal Transit Administration for all of their help on this project.”
Durbin played a key role in securing support from HUD for the project.
“This transit-oriented development will help revitalize the community and provide high-quality, affordable housing that allows active seniors to live more independently,” Senator Durbin said. “I’m glad to have helped secure federal support for this project and will continue fighting for investments that promote the health and well-being of Metro East communities.”
St. Louis-based Altman Charter is serving as general contractor on the project, which is scheduled for completion in spring of 2019. Chicago-based Worn Jerabek Wiltse Architects is the architect.
About SWIDA
The Southwestern Illinois Development Authority is a special-purpose, municipal corporation and local governmental unit whose purpose is to promote and enhance economic development within the counties of Bond, Clinton, Madison and St. Clair in Illinois. To learn more, visit www.swida.org.
About Bi-State Development
Bi-State Development operates the Metro public transportation system for the St. Louis region, which includes an 87-vehicle, 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; approximately 400 MetroBus vehicle fleet that operates on 83 MetroBus routes in Illinois and Missouri; and Metro Call-A-Ride, a paratransit fleet of 122 vans. BSD owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport and the Gateway Arch Riverboats, as well as operates the Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center and Gateway Arch trams. In addition, the St. Louis Regional Freightway, the region’s freight district, and the Bi-State Development Research Institute are operated by BSD.
PHOTO: Mike Lundy, executive director of the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority, speaks at today’s ground breaking. Illinois Business Journal photo, Dennis Grubaugh
