By Lori Lovely
Nestled in a bucolic setting overlooking the Illinois River, Galena Park Terrace Apartments in Peoria Heights offers a quiet hillside community for people meeting the income and age requirements. “Residents must be age 62 or older or mobility-disabled and require the features of our mobility-accessible units,” says Marilyn Jolly, site manager.
In accordance with an agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, restrictions limit annual income to $14,150-$23,600 for individual residents or $16,200-$27,000 for two people sharing quarters (minus any deductions for which they may qualify).
Jolly explains that rental charges comprise 30% of the resident’s gross annual income and includes all utilities plus cable TV. “Our residents like making only one payment a month for everything.”
Convenience
Long-time resident Berneice Powers does like having the utilities included in the rent, but the 82-year-old is also happy about not having to shovel snow or mow grass. “Living here alleviates a lot of burdens.”
Steve, who has worked in maintenance at Galena Park for three years, understands how she feels. He prefers landscaping to shoveling snow. So does maintenance manager Keith, a 23-year veteran at Galena Park. His favorite seasons are spring and summer because he enjoys working outside, doing landscaping and working with the plants that are a part of the picturesque grounds.
Walking trails traverse the property, which is adjacent to a wooded park. Benches along the trails provide a spot for resting, gathering and gazing at the local fauna, which includes deer. “It’s very relaxing,” observes Willie Mae Turner, rental coordinator. “The scenery is so beautiful.”
It’s inviting. Powers says she’s made a lot of friends since moving to the community in 2003. “We like to sit outside and visit,” she says. “There are a lot of people to visit with here.”
Resident MaryLee, who enjoys the view from her apartment window, agrees. She likes the location and enjoys the peace and quiet at Galena Park. She also enjoys meeting people who come in to shop at the onsite grocery, where she works part-time as a clerk. She also appreciates the convenience of working onsite. “It sure is nice that all your needs are met here,” she says, adding that maintenance is very prompt.
Features
Currently, the 151 units are divided between efficiencies with separate bath and kitchen, one bedroom apartments and doubles that are made up of two efficiencies, but Jolly says they hope to remodel soon.
Each apartment features a gas range and refrigerator, carpet, tile flooring in the kitchen and bath, individual controls for heating and air conditioning. Residents are allowed to keep small pets.
Amenities include a library, TV room, pool table and small grocery store. A laundry facility is onsite, as is maintenance. “We have an on-call maintenance staff that provides 24-hour service,” Turner notes.
A monthly newsletter alerts residents to scheduled activities and other information. A weekly church service is available and bingo games are a regular feature. The city bus makes hourly stops at the facility Monday through Saturday, connecting residents with nearby Peoria.
For residents in need of rehabilitation or nursing care, a nursing facility is next door.
Community
But while they remain on the grounds of the property located on the outskirts of Peoria, residents enjoy more than just the expansive greenspace and comfortable apartments; they share a sense of community.
“All the residents know each other,” Turner says. “They watch out for each other; it’s a nice support system.”
The staff serves as another support system for residents, as well as for one another. “It’s a team effort,” Turner continues. “We have a good rapport with the residents. Our office is always open.”
It’s a small office, but a busy one, Turner says, where she assists people with applications and rental issues. Describing herself as a “people person,” Turner, who has worked there for 15 years, says she enjoys mingling with the residents. Jolly also enjoys assisting residents and considers it a privilege to work with an experienced staff.
They aren’t the only ones who have been around several years. Jolly says many residents have lived at Galena Park Terrace Apartments as many as 15 to 20 years. “It’s home,” she says simply.
For more information, contact: 5533 N. Galena Rd., Peoria Heights IL, 61616. Phone: 309-688-9111
Photos courtesy of Galena Park Terrace