Latest news with #CCHI
Chicago Tribune
29-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Officials say ‘first-of-its-kind' housing coming to Highland Park; will fill ‘huge gap' for adults with disabilities
A planned cooperative apartment community for adults with disabilities in Highland Park will be a first-of-its-kind, according to owners, and will fill a services and housing niche drastically underserved in Illinois. Nonprofit organization Collaborative Community Housing Initiative is working to turn the former memory care facility, The Auberge at Highland Park, into CCHI Commons. It's an $8 million undertaking that includes the purchase of the building, and transforming it from a care facility into an apartment community. Construction is planned to begin in October, with residents moving in around April. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said she is excited to see the Commons come to the area, saying it reflects the city's value of inclusion. It will be 'more than just a place to live,' she said, providing recreation and socialization in ways not seen in typical housing. When city officials heard about CCHI Executive Director Laurie Williams' concept for the Commons, they saw the 'important and impactful opportunity' and encouraged her to move ahead, Rotering said. By her measure, the project fits well in Highland Park, which is also home to the North Shore Special Recreation Agency, which provides programs and services year-round for children and adults with disabilities, and Keshet, a social services organization that opened its headquarters in the city less than a year ago. She praised CCHI and the families involved for their efforts. For Williams and many of the organization's volunteers, the work is personal. Families see their children with disabilities leave school and lose their support structures and community. Parents also worry about what will happen to their adult children after they die. Williams' own son is now 31. 'I thought, 'What's going to happen to him? What's his life going to look like?'' Williams said. 'Typical peers get to go to college, live in a dorm, have their own apartments. Our population can't do that.' Illinois ranks poorly in this regard, Williams said. A 'State of the States' ranking by the University of Kansas put Illinois in 46th place for financial support of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It's a 'huge gap' when it comes to care, she said. The Commons, which will house 49 residents and a resident assistant, will be owned by its families as a co-op. It's a unique model. Williams believes it's the first inclusive housing project of its kind. She said that makes it more financially resilient compared to grant funding. Renovations include updating the commercial kitchen, installing a teaching kitchen, and adding art and music spaces. The work will transform it from a healthcare facility into a 'modern, ordinary apartment complex,' Michael Weiss, a CCHI volunteer and development partner, said. Despite its past use, the Commons won't be a care facility, Williams said, although it'll have the accessibility benefits of one with large doors and bathrooms. Residents may have jobs or be part of programs — they'll be semi-independent, with low to moderate needs. Williams said CCHI acquired the building in March, and has spent the subsequent months clearing it out. At the moment, much of the building is packed with chairs, desks and other leftover items the organization hopes to sell in an upcoming estate sale.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blueprint Supports the Collaborative Community Housing Initiative (CCHI) in its Acquisition of Former Seniors Housing Community to Create Inclusive Living Spaces in Highland Park
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Collaborative Community Housing Initiative is excited to announce its recent acquisition of a former memory care community in Highland Park, Illinois. This purchase marks a significant step forward in CCHI's mission to create an inclusive living environment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 2019, CCHI has long sought a property that could be transformed into a sustainable, welcoming community where individuals with disabilities can live independently, engage socially, and thrive. The vision became a reality with the recent acquisition, facilitated by Blueprint Healthcare Real Estate Advisors, a leading real estate advisory firm specializing in the seniors housing and behavioral healthcare space. The transition was further supported by Highland Park friends and partners, including Michael Weiss and HODC, who played a key role in the process. CCHI will transform the former senior housing property into a 45- to 50-unit co-living space that will provide adults with the opportunity to live, work, and socialize together in an environment designed for inclusion and independence. Their team has worked tirelessly to engage with community partners and stakeholders to bring this acquisition to fruition. "We are thrilled to bring this vision to life in Highland Park," said Laurie Williams, Founding Member of CCHI. "This property will allow us to offer a supportive, vibrant community for adults with disabilities, where they can build relationships, pursue activities they enjoy, and live as independently as possible." "Blueprint is incredibly proud to have played a part in this meaningful transaction and to help bring CCHI's vision for inclusive living to life," said Blueprint's CEO Ben Firestone. "We look forward to seeing the lasting impact this project will have on residents and the Highland Park community—a place my family and I call home." CCHI is deeply committed to ensuring that all people have access to opportunities for community engagement and independent living. The transformation of this property will provide a much-needed home for residents while fostering a supportive environment where they can flourish. For more information about CCHI's mission or to learn how you can support this important initiative, please visit For inquiries on Blueprint's behavioral health platform or to explore conversion opportunities, please contact Head of Behavioral Healthcare, Andrew Sfreddo at asfreddo@ For more information, please contact Eileen Gehring (egehring@ or Laurie Williams (laurie@ Chicago-based Blueprint was founded in 2013 with a mission to elevate healthcare real estate advisory through collaboration and data. Blueprint is now the most active advisory firm in seniors housing and skilled nursing, as well as a market leader within other healthcare real estate subsegments. With a proven track record of $13.8 billion in transaction volume, the Blueprint model rests on the unique combination of broad market coverage and unrivaled analytics. Blueprint has comprehensive industry expertise in skilled nursing, seniors housing, medical properties, and behavioral healthcare. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Blueprint Healthcare Real Estate Advisors; The Collaborative Community Housing Initiative Sign in to access your portfolio
