Franklin Park, IL — With shovels in hand, Leyden Township Supervisor Rocco D. Biscaglio, representatives of general contractor F.H. Paschen, Evergreen Real Estate group, and other partners marked the groundbreaking of a transformative new senior housing development and community center in Franklin Park, Illinois today. The event, attended by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, Illinois State Representative Brad Stephens, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar and other community leaders, signals the first significant step forward in addressing the critical housing needs of West Suburban Cook County seniors while transforming a vacant stretch of Mannheim Road.
The Leyden Township Apartments, a highlight of the Moving Mannheim Forward initiative, will feature an 80-unit, four-story residential building specifically designed to provide safe and comfortable housing for local seniors. The new Carl Fiorito Senior Center, a one-story community center will complement the apartments, offering programs, activities, and services tailored to the needs of older residents of Leyden Township.
“Leyden Township is committed to addressing the challenges faced by our senior population,” said Rocco D. Biscaglio, Leyden Township Supervisor. “This community is a testament to our dedication to providing all of the seniors in Leyden Township with accessible housing and the resources they need to sustain and improve their quality of life within our community.”
Designed by Weese Langley Klein Architects and scheduled to open in Summer 2026, this new planned-unit development is a collaborative effort between Leyden Township, developer Evergreen Real Estate Group, property manager Evergreen Real Estate Services, owner Leyden Apartments LP and general contractor F.H. Paschen.
Serving as the general contractor, Chicago-based F.H. Paschen has fast become a leader in the public-private housing partnerships that aim to bridge the gap in the need for senior, workforce and market-rate housing that is emerging across the Chicago suburbs.
“This senior center and housing community represents a profound moment for Leyden Township and its residents,” said Jim Blair, CEO of F.H. Paschen. “It is also another important milestone that demonstrates how F.H. Paschen is partnering with local governments to build critical public-private housing that allows seniors to age-in-place in their local communities.”
The redevelopment site is approximately 2.8 acres of vacant land located at the intersection of Mannheim Road and Nevada Avenue in Franklin Park. In addition to supporting the housing needs of the community, the development adds a new amenity for taxpayers. This re-development is also part of a land use improvement plan that is in keeping with Leyden Township’s efforts to revitalize the Mannheim Road corridor.
The combined development is financed through multiple sources, including the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), Bank of America, Hudson Housing, Leyden Township, and the Cook County Department of Planning and Development. Mesirow Financial participated in the underwriting syndicate for the IHDA financing and served as the lead underwriter for Leyden Township’s General Obligation bond offering, which secured the remaining funds needed to complete the funding stack.
“Leyden Senior Apartments will be a meaningful development for Leyden Township, not only for the delivery of critical affordable housing and an adjacent senior center, but also for the significant investments being made within the community and along Mannheim Road”, said Chris Nash, Senior Relationship Manager at Bank of America. “These investments will be catalytic for additional jobs, tax revenue and investments, the result of which should ease budgets and free up competitive resources. Bank of America is grateful for the ability to partner with Evergreen Development, IHDA, Leyden Township and so many others to help bring this bold vision to life”.Also in attendance at the groundbreaking was Illinois State Representative Camille Y. Lilly and the Honorable Barrett Pedersen, Franklin Park Mayor.
The Significance of the Senior Community
Today’s ceremony highlighted the urgency of addressing the housing crisis for seniors in Cook County. According to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the number of seniors aged 65 to 84 in the Chicago metropolitan area, including its suburbs, is expected to double by 2040. Furthermore, the number of residents in the region who are over 85 years old is projected to triple.
The suburbs around Chicago, traditionally viewed as havens for young families, are now becoming critical in accommodating the needs of an aging population.
According to census estimates, Leyden Township has a greater percentage (18.1% of population) of seniors compared with all of Cook County (16.1% of population) and that number is expected to grow.
“These apartments and the new senior citizen community center will provide seniors an opportunity to stay in the community they love while maintaining their independence and providing entertainment and recreation at their doorstep,” added Biscaglio. “This is more than a construction job; it’s a commitment to our residents.”
Community Highlights
- Leyden Senior Apartments: An 80-unit (72 one-bedrooms and 8 two-bedrooms), four-story building offering secure and comfortable housing for seniors. Expected occupancy date is “Summer 2026”.
- The new one-story senior center, known as the Carl Fiorito Senior Center will be built on a separate lot of the property. The center will be host to activities, programs, and services tailored to older residents.
