Thornwood House Apartments, located at 1 Thornwood Drive in southwest suburban University Park, has undergone a $10-million renovation which is nearing completion.

The 14-story affordable rental apartment building contains 183 one-bedroom apartments designed for seniors 62 years or older and persons with disabilities. Practically every element of the building has been replaced or updated, according to Metroplex, Inc., the managing agent. The rehabilitated apartments are now ready for new residents.

As part of its initial lease-up program, Thornwood House is offering one-month’s free rent for qualified applicants who sign a lease before the end of 2011.

The affordable one-bedroom apartments available at Thornwood House Apartments feature 486 to 660 square feet of living area. Monthly rents range from $545 to $600. Heat and air conditioning are included in the rent, and parking is free.

The building is pet friendly and there is 24-hour on-site maintenance. Income limits apply. Pace bus pick-up and drop-off is at the site.

Interior apartment renovations include new carpeting in living rooms and bedrooms. Kitchens feature new cabinets, range, refrigerators, double-bowl stainless-steel sinks, laminate countertops, light fixtures, and new floors.

Baths showcase new cabinets, light fixtures, tubs, tile tub surrounds, cultured marble sinks, and new floors. To maximize individual comfort, thermostats in each apartment enable the resident to control the temperature in each unit.

Many of the apartments have balconies and some have walk-in closets. Large new sliding windows, including mini-blinds, bring abundant light into every room and enable residents to enjoy the beautiful vistas which surround the building on every side.

A beautifully landscaped area with benches and a winding path through flowering bushes provides a restful place for residents to relax and visit with one another. The common areas of the building also have been totally renovated.

“The ground floor is the heart of the building,” said Jane Huynh, president of Metroplex. “This is where the residents meet and socialize with one another and this is where the ‘business’ of the building takes place.”

There will be a lounge/sitting room with a fireplace as well as a large community room where social activities and entertainment will take place. The community room will contain a large screen TV as well as game tables and chairs. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors lead to a large handicap-accessible patio which looks out upon a beautiful landscaped area.

The renovated enlarged laundry room will contain additional new washers and dryers. The front and rear entrances will be rebuilt with automatic operators for ease of access.

“Bricks and mortar are only part of the story,” said Aida Garcia, Metroplex supervisor.

Thornwood House Apartments has received a $460,561 three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to hire two on-site Service Coordinators to assess the needs of its senior and disabled residents and to link them to supportive or medical services in the general community which they need to continue to live independently.

“This is part of a national movement to enable seniors and disabled persons to remain at home rather than move into nursing homes. We are excited to be part of this effort,” said David Block, Director of Planning for The Community Builders, the building’s owner.

“We believe that Thornwood House Apartments will be a leader in helping low and moderate income seniors and disabled persons to remain independent,” Block said.

The rehabilitation was undertaken by The Community Builders who bought the building in 2010.

“This major investment will insure that Thornwood House residents will have a comfortable and attractive place in which to live for years to come,” said Block. “Built in 1974, Thornwood House was showing its age. At this point in the building’s life, it needed a major investment to ensure it remained an important housing resource for Will and Southern Cook Counties for the next 40 years.

As a national nonprofit housing organization, Block said his company is in the business of buying and rehabilitating buildings like Thornwood House Apartments to continue making them available to low- and moderate-income seniors and persons with disabilities.

“We are happy to be making this contribution to this community,” he said. “We are fortunate that the Illinois Housing Development Authority made significant resources available to support this major renovation effort.”

According to architect Steven Rezabek, Senior Associate at Pappageorge Haymes Partners, a great deal of work was done to the exterior of the building.

The concrete façade was repaired and repainted, and a new roof was installed. New low-E high performance insulated glass windows were installed throughout. Energy efficiency was taken into consideration in the selection of all lighting fixtures. Energy Star appliances were selected for the kitchens, and all plumbing fixtures are low flow.

Corridors were re-carpeted and repainted and new light fixtures were installed. Building mechanical systems were repaired or replaced to ensure that they would serve to support the building and its residents for many years to come.

The existing residents of Thornwood House Apartments were relocated into newly refurbished apartments within the building during the renovation. Since the building is already partially occupied, there is only a limited number of apartments available for new residents.

In a recent testimonial, a 10-year resident of Thornwood House had praise for all participants in the rehabilitation process, including the “highly skilled professional management staff,” the maintenance crew who performed “seemingly impossible jobs,” and even the “mail carriers who notified residents via intercom (prior to the installation of new mailboxes) of important packages, including medications.”

Finally, this 10-year resident of Thornwood House Apartments wrote: “Lastly and most important…the community composed of friendly residents and kind and caring neighbors that possess a positive attitude and always manage to make the best out of any given situation. If you add a totally refurbished building with a beautiful newly remodeled apartment, you have the reasons why I’m more grateful than ever to call Thornwood House my home.”

Qualified seniors and persons with disabilities are encouraged to come see for themselves why Thornwood House Apartments should be their next home.

To apply for an apartment at Thornwood House Apartments, call 877-283-5985 or visit www.thornwoodhouse.com or stop by the office at 1 Thornwood Drive, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drive-out directions:

Take Interstate 57 to Sauk Trail Road, go east to Western Avenue, turn right on Western, turn right on Exchange Avenue, turn right on Burnham, turn right on Thornwood Drive.