The mayor of Peoria, IL, Dr. Rita Ali, visited Parkwood Commons on October 6, one of Wallick Communities’ five affordable apartment communities in Peoria. Led by Jonathan Stonebraker, Wallick’s assistant regional vice president, Mayor Ali toured several apartment units and the community’s clubhouse, including a community room, on-site laundry facility, computer center, kitchenette, and management offices.

Currently, the State of Illinois lacks nearly 300,000 affordable rental homes. Parkwood Commons is one of the only affordable apartment communities for large families in Peoria, as the community offers 5-bedroom units. With Parkwood Commons’ rehabilitation, Wallick’s investment in the City of Peoria is now $70 million. It includes the recent restoration of 478 other apartment homes at Parkview Estates, Hurlburt House, Schlarman House, and Reservoir Estates.

Parkwood was built in the early 1970s, and until Wallick acquired the community, there had not been any physical updates or renovations since its construction. After nearly two years of work, Wallick completed its $19.4 million rehabilitation of Parkwood Commons in May of 2021.

Now, Parkwood has 100 total units spread across 50 buildings with two, three, four, and five-bedroom apartments. Significant rehab work was done in each apartment, including new plumbing; energy-efficient windows and doors; low-flow toilets, showerheads, and faucets; new kitchen cabinets and appliances; new light fixtures and ceiling fans in the living room and dining rooms; new water heaters; new hard-wired fire detection units in all areas; and new central HVAC.