Affordable Housing Development Opens in Northbrook

A nonprofit developer has inaugurated a new 48-unit apartment building in downtown Northbrook, designed for individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities. This project, Poupard Place, is located at 1593 Shermer Road. It was developed by the Housing Opportunity Development Corporation, a Skokie-based nonprofit, in partnership with the Village of Northbrook.

The building accommodates residents with disabilities or households that include someone with a disability, and who earn up to 60% of the Area Median Income. Richard Koenig, executive director of the Housing Opportunity Development Corporation, emphasized the growing need for affordable housing in the suburbs. He praised the Village for being instrumental in realizing this project, targeting individuals with disabilities within the community.

Poupard Place received 600 applications for its 48 units, which include one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom options. The facility incorporates ADA accessibility features, such as two elevators, handle-operated doors, and some units with lower countertops for ease of access. There is no age restriction for residency.

There’s an extensive process for checking people’s income and qualifying them, said Koenig.

Residents began moving in throughout June, continuing through July and August with the aim to be fully occupied by the end of August. The Village Board had approved the project unanimously in February 2025.

The $24 million development funds came from both public and private sources, including a $1 million grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. Additional funding was provided by the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Cook County, and the National Equity Fund. Private capital, a grant through Wintrust Bank, and the donation of land by the Village of Northbrook were crucial for the project.

Rental prices start at $700 for a one-bedroom, $900 for a two-bedroom, and $1,100 for a three-bedroom unit. The building is named after Tom Poupard, a longtime advocate for affordable housing.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 30 was attended by approximately 150 people, including city and state officials such as Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle and Village President Kathryn Ciesla. Remarks were made highlighting the importance of expanding access to housing and creating opportunities for the local community.

Koenig noted the impact of the village’s affordable housing trust fund and inclusionary zoning ordinance on the project’s success. Northbrook’s ordinance, passed in late 2020, requires developers to include affordable units in new projects, a measure that several other North Shore communities have also adopted to increase affordable housing availability.