DANVILLE, Ill. — Vitus Group, a national developer and owner of affordable housing, announced the preservation and planned renovation of Vermilion Gardens apartments for low-income individuals, families and older adults in Danville, Ill. These 223 units, located at 1213 Garden Drive, will remain affordable for another 20 years. Due to an extension of the Housing Assistance Payment contract, with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, residents will pay no more than 30 percent of their household income on rent. The project was orchestrated in partnership with Citi Community Capital.
“We are thrilled to have preserved the affordability of three properties in Illinois in just the past 18 months,” said Vitus Group’s Development Director, Scott Langan. “It’s important to demonstrate to a community like Danville that we can not only maintain the affordability of these apartments, but also improve the quality of housing for the residents who live there.”
Vermilion Gardens is located just north of Danville’s commercial center, and is close to numerous parks and Lake Vermilion. The property will be made more energy efficient and secure with improved lighting, a new roof and upgraded kitchens and bathrooms. In addition to these essential improvements, Vermilion Gardens will also benefit from new active design features that encourage physical activity, including an outdoor gym, new playground equipment and a community garden.
As one of the first affordable housing developers, Vitus Group has committed to the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) to build healthier communities across the country by incorporating active design elements into at least 80 percent of its future projects. PHA, headed up by honorary chair Michelle Obama, works with the private sector to make the healthier choice the easy choice. Vitus is also working with the Center for Active Design for technical support in planning the onsite features for specific communities and properties.