In the Pipeline: Senior Housing Construction Projects (4/30/15)

Construction: Planned

Aspire Development Partners, The Arbor Company Plan Ga. Community

Ga.-based Aspire Development Partners and The Arbor Company recently announced plans for the development of a cutting-edge senior living community in Georgia’s Cherokee County.

The project site is located on Sixes Road near the master-planned Bridge Mill Golf and Country Club community.

Construction, which is scheduled to start in late 2015, calls for 140 units of active independent living and 80 units of assisted living and memory care residences.

Thoughtfully incorporated into a stylish, resort-like campus, and situated on a picturesque 15-acre site, the development will deliver Arbor’s hospitality, service and care.

“We are very excited about brining this quality of Senior Living to Cherokee County especially considering the exceptional growth and development in the area,” said David Hink, managing partner for Aspire. “The people and leaders in this community have been very welcoming and our hope is that Aspire’s innovative and integrative approach to senior living will be an exciting new and value-added asset to the area.”

Interior design for the facility will be provided by studioSIX5 Design. The project will be financed by LFW Investments, the investment arm of local real estate investor Leo F. Wells.

The community is being constructed by Choate Construction and is set to open late 2016.

Construction: In process

Kisco Senior Living Begins Vertical Construction of Raleigh, N.C. CCRC

Carlsbad, Calif.-based Kisco Senior Living this week announced it has begun vertical construction at The Cardinal at North Hills, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Raleigh, N.C.

“We are all excited to see The Cardinal take shape with construction of the north and south independent living buildings rising from their foundations,” said Kisco Senior Living CEO Andy Kohlberg in a written statement.

Living options at The Cardinal will include 165 independent living residences and 60 on-site private apartments licensed for assisted living, memory care and nursing care. Ten different independent living floor plans ranging from one- to three-bedrooms will be available, with optional upgrades to further personalize each home.

A 35,000 sq. ft. clubhouse directly connected to each residence building will offer multiple dining options. Residents can participate in live cooking demonstrations, take a cooking class or simply order a chef-prepared meal at the cafe. The tavern and adjacent outdoor terrace is another feature of the campus where residents can meet for cocktails before dinner in the Veranda dining room, which offers views of the garden.

Incorporated into the design are several communal spaces where residents can gather in groups large or small. The Family Room offers space to host extended family and friends in its combination residential kitchen and large den.

For social, spiritual and vocational experiences, there are a lecture room, non-denominational chapel, movie theater, art studio and library. A card room featuring a wet bar offers a more intimate atmosphere for bridge or casual gatherings.

On the campus’ garden level, a fully-equipped fitness center and spa complex with an indoor pool, strength training room, Tai Chi/yoga/dance studio, massage room and full service salon. Outside, the main garden is replete with walking paths, a yoga lawn and outdoor kitchen with grill and prep areas.

The Cardinal at North Hills will offer a simple monthly fee based on the type of residence selected, with no large entry fee or purchase of an equity interest required.

Of the available independent living residences at the community, 148 (90%) have been reserved. The community is scheduled to open in summer 2016.

REDICO, American House Celebrate Groundbreaking Ceremony

REDICO, a Mich.-based real estate developer and real estate investment company, officially broke ground April 29 at the future site of American House Coconut Point.

The development will be branded under American House Senior Living Communities, an affiliated company of REDICO.

American House Coconut Point will include 194 apartments, comprised of 54 independent living, 76 assisted living and 64 memory care residences ranging in size from 327- to 879 sq. ft. for studio, one-bedroom; one-bedroom/den and two-bedroom/two bath apartments.

“When REDICO and American House entered into its partnership, it was always our intent to expand the geographic platform,” said Dale Watchowski, CEO of REDICO and American House Senior Living Communities.

The REDICO-American House venture started with 13 senior housing communities. Today, 51 are now in the company’s portfolio, Watchowski said.

Rockford Construction Company, Inc. was selected to construct the community. The anticipated completion date for American House Coconut Point is spring/summer 2016.

Green House Project under construction John Knox Village

Des Moines, Iowa-based builder The Weitz Company has completed the main structure of The Woodlands at John Knox Village, a new seven-story nursing home in Pompano Beach, Fla.

The 111,426 sq. ft. structure represents the start of a new era in South Florida senior living, said Michael Hass, Weitz Director of Senior Living in a written statement.

“The Woodlands will be the first licensed nursing facility in the state of Florida built on the Green House model of care, which is an alternative to traditional, institutional skilled nursing environments,” Hass said.

At The Woodlands Green House, 12 residents will share one of 12 self-contained homes, where meals and care will be provided by caregivers dedicated to each home rather than by rotating shifts of specialists.

Because Green House homes offer environments meant to feel like a senior’s previous residence, each of the homes have private rooms and bathrooms with a shared living room, open kitchen and fireplace—a large emphasis placed on making the health care infrastructure invisible.

The Green House development is Weitz’s third building project at John Knox Village. The Woodlands is expected to be completed in 2016.

The architect is RDG Planning & Design.

Lifespace Communities Announces $20 Million Renovation Project of Fla. CCRC

Harbour’s Edge, a CCRC in Delray Beach, Fla., is breaking ground on a $20 million renovation project to enhance the community and best position it to serve the population of seniors living in the area.

The project will focus on building a new Lifelong Learning Center, which includes a media center, library and performing arts center. Renovations will also add a second dining venue, remodeling of the main restaurant, and make large-scale renovations to the community’s fitness center and wellness areas, spa rooms, as well as a complete upgrade of the interior design throughout the main common area.

The $20 million project is the second phase of Harbour’s Edge’s master plan for overall enhancements.

The first phase, which was completed in 2013, saw the enhancement of the community’s Health Center, which includes skilled nursing and short- and long-term rehabilitation services. That $5 million project included the expansion of the CCRC’s physical and occupational therapy room, state-of-the-art kitchen, dining room, and complete upgrade of the interior design.

Ohio-bsaed CC Hodgson Architecture group has been selected as the designer for the project and Plaza Construction as the contractor.

Construction and all phases of the project are scheduled to be complete by December 2016.

Minn. CCRC Breaks Ground on $38 Million Construction Phase

St. John’s Lutheran Community officially broke ground last week on a new $38 million facility in Albert Lea, Minn., reports the Albert Lea Tribune.

The first phase of construction, which is slated to be completed by April 2016, will include an assisted living complex as well as a independent living complex. The complexes will be joined by part of the town center, which will offer services and amenities including an activity room, chapel, beauty and barber shop, a coffee shop, tech center and fitness center.

Within the two-story independent living complex will be 20 apartments on the first floor and 20 apartments on the second floor. Meanwhile, the assisted living building will feature 16 apartments on the first and second floors, with the first floor serving memory care patients.

The second phase of construction at the community will see to the development of an 84 private-room nursing home, which is slated to be completed in March or April 2017.

Fla. CCRC Moorings Park Expands Memory Care Residences 

Moorings Park, a Life Care community in Naples, Fla., this week announced construction of an 18-suite memory care center within its Orchid Terrace assisted living facility, reports Naples Daily News.

The memory care center, which is on schedule for completion in mid-May, has been designed to provide a home and services that addresses the needs of those with memory loss or who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

Moorings Park’s memory care wing will incorporate the community’s continuum of care that includes using the Best Friends approach, which stresses relationships, communication and activity in dementia care therapy.

The new memory care suites at Orchid Terrace will present a personalized, home-like setting using a variety of designs and decor to stimulate conversation and connections, including the use of personalized storyboards and digital picture frames.

Life Care residents at Moorings Park are eligible to receive memory care services as part of their monthly fees, while individuals from the greater Naples area can receive the services on a month-to-month basis at a daily rate with no entrance fees.

Construction: Completed

First Affordable Housing Community Opens in Pensacola, Fla.

Fairfield Manor, an affordable housing community for seniors in Pensacola, Fla., held a grand opening ceremony last week to commemorate the completion of construction and the welcoming of new residents.

The community is made up of 92 units of one- and two-bedroom apartments, and is currently 70% leased. Units are designated for seniors age 62 years and older on limited incomes.

Construction features of the property were designed to achieve Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, with state-of-the-art environmentally-friendly elements.

Most notable is the Solar Photo Voltaic system that will provide 100% of the energy to all common areas of the building. The system will run elevators, light the corridors, and run computers in the offices as well as appliances in the common kitchen area.

Individual units will benefit from the state-of-the-art heating and cooing units, high-efficiency water heaters, water-saving showers and plumbing fixtures, as well as ENERGY STAR appliances, light fixtures and ceiling fans.

Fairfield Manor is the second affordable housing community that The Paces Foundation has built in Florida. The first was also awarded LEED Platinum certification and is located in Panama City.

Amenities at Fairfield Manor include a pool, community room, hair salon, library, computer room, workout room, a gazebo, a shuffle board and an area for gardening.

Written by Jason Oliva