The southwest corner of Merchant Street and Dearborn Avenue in downtown Kankakee is where city officials hope a developer will build a multi-unit apartment complex.

A nonprofit development company based in Rock Island is looking to build and hoped to break ground as soon as next year.

Kankakee Mayor Nina Epstein announced the project at the Kankakee City Council meeting Monday.

The Daily-Journal reports the building will consist of several dozen studio and one-bedroom apartments. It would offer "affordable housing," not subsidized housing.

2nd Ward Alderman Mike O'Brien said 'this may not be for everyone, but downtown Kankakee is the place to be for a lot of people.'

O'Brien labeled downtown as the "heart of our community." He noted private business, the city government and the Kankakee Development Corporation helped create a solid foundation during the past 25 years.

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