Site new of state veterans' home announced

On the eve of Veterans Day, Gov. Pat Quinn announced the site of the Illinois Veterans’ Home at Chicago, a 200-bed facility that will begin construction in 2010.

Quinn, joined by Secretary of State Jesse White and a group of state legislators, made the announcement Tuesday morning at the site of the home, at 4200 N. Oak Park Ave. on the Northwest Side.

The Veterans’ Home at Chicago will be built on approximately 10 acres at the site, according to a release from Quinn's office. The location was selected because of its proximity to Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital and its accessibility to public transportation.

Construction is expected to last 12 to 14 months, and the facility will be the fifth veterans’ home located in Illinois and the first in Chicago, the release said.

The Veteran’s Home at Chicago is expected to create 200 jobs and is the first veterans’ home to be built in Illinois with all-new construction. It will be separated into five, 40-bed units, including a wing specifically for Alzheimer and dementia patients.

“Over half of Illinois’ 1.2 million veterans live in the Chicago area, and we’re proud that this new facility will be able to serve them,” Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) Director Dan Grant said. “The Veteran’s Home at Chicago will be a tremendous benefit for Chicago-area veterans and their families.”