Dr. Ed Hightower Expresses Optimism About Sunnybrook Affordable Housing Development

A Look Inside The Community of Sunnybrook

ALTON - Dr. Ed Hightower was a driving force behind the new Alton Sunnybrook Affordable Housing Development at 767 Washington Avenue in Alton. The development will provide 40 apartments for families earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income, or $60,180 for a household of three.

Dr. Hightower is a former superintendent of schools in Edwardsville and was a well-known national basketball referee during his elite career. He has now moved to campaigns that he believes will help Alton, his hometown, and the Venice communities.

Community leaders and elected officials gathered on Nov. 5, 2025, to celebrate the grand opening of the Alton Sunnybrook Affordable Housing Development, a $20 million project that Hightower says is "aimed at providing quality, affordable housing for local families."

Hightower said the project aims to offer safe and upscale living opportunities for Alton residents.

“Today we celebrate the grand opening of the Alton Community Housing Development, a shining example of what can be achieved when people come together with purpose and vision,” Hightower said on Nov. 5, 2025. “These new affordable homes symbolize the chance to build a better future for 40 families.”

Hightower acknowledged the challenges faced during the project’s development, including legal battles that reached the Illinois Supreme Court.

“The nonsense that we have to go through to get this type of affordable housing,” he said, highlighting the efforts of the legal team and community advocates involved.

Governor J.B. Pritzker praised the collaboration and leadership that brought the project to fruition, including State Senator Erica Harriss and State Representative Amy Elik. “It really is truly another great day for Illinois families because we’re providing access to lower-cost housing and a better quality of life,” Pritzker said that day.

Alton Mayor David Goins also expressed optimism about the development’s impact on the community.

“The Community of Sunnybrook is a powerful example of what can happen when commitment and collaboration come together for the good of our residents,” Goins said.

The development spans seven acres and includes ten four-plex townhomes, a community building, and a playground. Funding primarily came from Illinois’ Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and COVID-19 Affordable Housing grants.

"It was the right thing to do, and it was the right development to foster affordable housing in Alton," Dr. Hightower said. "You can see the quality of the new housing in its interior and exterior. My goal is to give Alton citizens the respect and dignity that they deserve with quality housing. We stayed the course on this project."

Hightower said his mother, Dasie, and family have always been his support system with his wife and daughters. Dasie died in 2014, but Ed has always talked about how much she meant to him growing up and through his life, including all his work in the education realm and beyond.

"They have all been there every step of the way," he said. "I am just so fortunate to have all of them."

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