Hickory Hills officials last week reviewed plans for West Point Builders’ proposed senior living development, West Point Hills, at the site of the former Sabre Room.
The March 13 meeting, which lasted over an hour, included a presentation by the developers, questions from council members, and comments from residents who raised concerns about traffic, flooding, and public safety at the former banquet hall at 8900 W. 95th St.
West Point Builders is proposing a 192-unit, 55-and-older rental community on about 29 acres. The development would include 64 ranch-style townhomes with one- and two-car garages, as well as two four-story apartment buildings with a total of 128 units and indoor parking. Amenities would include a 5,000- to 6,000-square-foot clubhouse, pool, pickleball courts, and a dog park.
Developers also plan to donate 7.8 acres to the city for potential park use, along with preserving 1.5 acres of mature trees.
Projected rents would range from $2,650 to $3,300 for the townhomes and $2,184 to $3,200 for the apartments. A professional management company would handle leasing and maintenance, with staff on site.
Residents and council members raised several issues during the meeting, focusing mainly on traffic flow, stormwater drainage, and public safety. The project would have three access points: a full-access entrance at 95th Street and 89th Avenue, a right-in/right-out entrance also at 89th Avenue, and a full-access point at 88th Avenue. Some residents, particularly those near Walgreens, expressed concern about increased congestion and difficulty making left turns onto 95th Street during peak hours.
Stormwater management was another major concern, especially among residents of Palos Hills and Equestrian Ridge. City officials emphasized that the developers will be required to meet all drainage and water retention standards before the project moves forward. The plans call for multiple retention ponds, and all water runoff must be managed on-site in compliance with local and regional requirements
On the topic of security, residents worried about increased traffic and potential disturbances, especially with public access to the green space and walking paths.
Developers responded that the area would be well-lit, with security measures in place, and said parking would be adequate, with 2.3 spaces per unit plus additional street parking.
City council members made it clear this was only a preliminary proposal.
Several aspects still need to be finalized, including detailed water retention and lighting plans, evaluation of parking and access, and a review of whether a second elevator should be added to the apartment buildings for convenience and emergency access. Officials said that engineering studies, traffic analysis, and further reviews will follow, and another public hearing will take place before final approval.
Residents who spoke during public comment expressed both support and hesitation. One resident, Jan, questioned whether the developers would be able to keep units occupied in the long term, especially given the projected rent levels.
A homeowner from Equestrian Ridge highlighted the need for ADA-accessible units, while another resident, Mark, asked if police and fire services could handle a potential increase in emergency calls.
City officials acknowledged all concerns and reiterated that nothing will be finalized until more studies are completed and agreements between the city and developers are in place.
While the council voted to approve the Finding of Fact for the concept, members emphasized this is only the start of the process.
The approval represents a key step in redeveloping a large, long-vacant property, but residents and officials will continue to review and evaluate every detail before anything is built.
The Sabre Room shut its doors for good on May 29, 2019, after 67 years of hosting weddings, New Year’s Eve parties and Hollywood stars including Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra.
The Sabre Room was founded by Arnold and Marie Muzzarelli in 1949 on the 30-acre site of the luxury Dynell Spring Spa, which dates back to the 1920s.
In regards to building a senior community at the old Sabre Room site, I believe it is a great idea. As long as it is constructed with all the major concerns properly addressed. Areas like stormwater management, safety, having enough parking for residents and visitors and consideration for the surrounding residents. We wish this type of community existed when we downsized from living 35 years in a home in Hickory Hills to living in a Palos Hills condo the last 3 years. Our condominium subdivision currently has a clubhouse, pool and newly remodeled tennis/pickleball court, which are all added benefits. A dog park would be great too, our dog would have loved it. One thing our subdivision should have been built with was sidewalks throughout. Many residents walk through our beautiful subdivision for exercise and also walk their dogs. So now they have to walk on the street which is a safety concern, especially at night. A park with a walking trail around it would also be great too, along with preserving the mature trees. Limiting the apartment buildings to 4 stories is also a good idea and not create an eyesore. As far as traffic, it would be a safety benefit to install a traffic signal at the new community’s main entrance to make exiting and entering the property easier. Adding a traffic signal would also help with traffic speeds on 95th street. The property should be constructed with beautiful aesthetics in mind. Make it so it is not a just an asphalt jungle of parking lots but full of grassy areas, trees and nature. Let’s bring this great addition to the Hickory and Palos area!