PEORIA (25 News Now) – Peoria City Council plans to build senior housing in the city’s south side, but residents voiced their concerns Wednesday afternoon.

The news comes four years following the council’s plan to construct safe, affordable housing for families.

Community activist Robin Grantham claimed affordable housing had not been constructed on the city’s south side since the mid-1990′s.

“It’s almost like they spent all this time working on a plan, being engaged, and saying what they wanted. Now there is a developer coming into the area saying this is what we’re going to build,” said Grantham. “Whose needs does that meet? Is it meeting the needs of the people, or is it meeting the needs of the developer?”

One homeowner who was shot in the chest said the area needs additional housing to keep families safe.

“Since I’ve moved from my first home to my second, my PTSD went from 100 to zero,” said resident Pamela Johnson. “I just want my kids to be safe.”

There will be an informational meeting about the project at the Southside Community Center Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. 25 News will be there in attendance to tell you what we learned.

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