With the growing increase in senior citizen
populations, the Village of Alsip realized a need for safe and
affordable senior citizen housing for those 55 and older. The need
became a reality when in 1988, the Village purchased the Ridgeway
apartment complex, and turned it into the Alsip Heritage I
Apartments. All the units were in great need of repair at the time
of their purchase, so the Village remodeled all 168 apartments. The
complex was also equipped with an in-ground swimming pool and
clubhouse for various senior citizen activities.
After the great success of this complex, in
1991, the Village decided to purchase a second complex; the Colonial
Place Apartments. This complex consisted of 344 units, which were
also in poor condition. The Village has completed all the
remodeling at what is now, the Heritage II complex. As with the
first complex, a large clubhouse facility was built, and an existing
in-ground pool was completely rehabilitated.
This brings the total Heritage complexes to
512 units, with units available. The purchase of these
complexes also provided much needed employment to numerous members
of the construction trades who remodeled the units. The purchase of
these apartment complexes also were conducted without any additional
costs to Alsip taxpayers, while at the same time, the rehabilitation
projects upgraded two large complexes that were in vast need of
repair.