Rockford officials divided over plan to build 29 studio apartments in former nursing home

A vacant building at 310 Arnold Ave. in Rockford might be converted into 29 units of affordable housing — but the project still needs approval from the Rockford City Council.

So far, city officials have given the proposal mixed reviews.

The council's Code and Regulation Committee on Monday voted to reverse an earlier Rockford Zoning Board of Appeals’ recommendation to deny a special use permit for the project.

Because of the ZBA’s earlier recommendation, the City Council will need a two-thirds majority — not just a simple majority — to approve the project.

A typical unit at the site would be a 483-square foot studio apartment. The building, which is just south of State Street, was previously a drug rehabilitation facility and, before that, a nursing home.

Committee chair Ald. Gabrielle Torina, D-5, voted in favor of allowing the development to proceed.

“We just really need housing at this price point in the city,” she said.

After the ZBA hearing, the developer, Arnold Isakhanian of MKES Investments, LLC, made several changes to his plans for the site. Those include adding a laundry room, a community space for tenants and basement storage lockers where tenants can keep bicycles or seasonal equipment.

The total number of units was reduced from 30 to 29, and one unit will be occupied by an onsite property manager.

Ald. Mark Bonne, D-14, said the changes didn’t address his concerns about Isakhanian’s plans for the building, which is located in the area he represents.

At a previous committee meeting, Bonne accused Isakhanian of not being transparent with the city and said the current architectural plans were “riddled with problems.” He said the planned density was not appropriate for the location.

Isakhanian could not be reached for comment.

The building is in an R-3 multifamily residential zoning district. Without a special use permit, a developer could construct 21 units of housing on the property.

Tilly Robinson is a summer reporting intern with the Gannett/USA Today Network at the Rockford Register Star. She can be reached via email at mrrobinson@gannett.com and on X @ tillyrobin .

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford officials divided over plan to build 29 studio apartments in former nursing home