In the Pipeline: Kendal’s Zen-Inspired Project Moves Ahead; Oakmont Expands in California

Construction: Planned

Plans Advance for Zen-Inspired Kendal Life Plan Community in California

The Healdsburg Planning Commission has awarded a series of approvals to the planners of Enso Village, a Kendal-affiliated life plan community in Healdsburg, California.

Kendal is collaborating on the project with the San Francisco Zen Center. Plans call for a 221-residence community with fitness and wellness amenities and multiple dining venues. The project’s design is rooted in multiple sources of inspiration, such as the agricultural history of Healdsburg, the Zen Center properties at Green Gulch in Marin and Tassajara in Carmel Valley, and the “Quaker and Zen notions of simplicity, authenticity and living lightly on the land.” 

Residents will be able to tend to a working garden, which will also help supply the community’s restaurants with fresh produce. Construction is currently scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2021.

Bridgewood Plans North Carolina Community

Senior living developer Bridgewood has acquired a plot of land in Charlotte, North Carolina, with plans to construct a new luxury senior living community.

The community, dubbed The Village on Morehead, is still in design. Bridgewood selected BB+M as the project’s architects, LandDesign as civil engineers and Choate Construction as the project’s general contractor. If all goes according to plan, workers will break ground on the community in the spring of 2021.

Construction: In progress

Covenant Living Expanding Illinois Community

Covenant Living is adding 36 new assisted living units to its Covenant Living at Windsor Park community in Carol Stream, Illinois.

In addition to the new assisted living units, the $21 million capital improvement project is also adding a new rehabilitation area for physical and occupational therapy, an HVAC system, skilled nursing rooms and two new memory care suites.

Construction is now underway, and the project is on track to wrap on in December, 2021. Covenant Living’s project partners include Leopardo Construction and THW Architects.

LCB Breaks Ground for Pennsylvania Project

LCB Senior Living this month held a groundbreaking ceremony for The Residence at Bala Cynwyd, a forthcoming senior living community in Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

As planned, the community would have amenities such as an “anytime” dining program, a library, theater, exercise room and patios. Residents also have access to LCB’s Emerald Suite concierge services.

Brightview Debuts Welcome Center at Virginia Community Under Construction

Brightview Senior Living has opened a welcome center at its Brightview Fair Oaks community under construction in Fairfax, Virginia.

Through the welcome center, prospective residents can preview the community’s amenities, which include outdoor space for dining, gardening and activities, beauty salon, pub, movie theater, private dining rooms, multipurpose great room, cafe, library, art studio and a fitness center with a juice bar. The 170-apartment community is currently slated to open in the summer of 2021.

Affordable Senior Housing Project Underway in Boston

Work has started on Grace Apartments, an affordable housing complex for older adults in Boston.

Developers East Boston Community Development Corporation and Affirmative Investments are collaborating on the 42-apartment project. Architecture and design firm DiMella Shaffer also was a partner on the project.

Construction: Complete

Oakmont Opens California Community

Oakmont Senior Living’s newest community has opened its doors in Novato, California.

The community, Oakmont of Novato, has 85 apartment homes, with access to amenities such as a beauty salon and private movie theater with plush seating. Residents of the community also have access to health care services and a concierge physician.

This is the third Oakmont community to open during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Watercrest, St. Joe Community in Florida Now Welcoming Residents

A new senior living community from development partners Watercrest Senior Living Group and The St. Joe Company in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, received its certificate of occupancy and began welcoming residents earlier this month.

Watercrest Santa Rosa Beach has 107 units and amenities that include a promenade, fireplace, signature water wall, multiple dining options, pool, salon and spa, grand balconies and a faux-outdoor streetscape with LifeBUILT programming for residents.

Chelsea Senior Living Opens New Jersey Community

Chelsea Senior Living has opened a new senior living community in Sparta, New Jersey.

The community, The Chelsea at Sparta, has amenities including a bistro, club room, dining room, salon, sports lounge and theater. Memory care residents also have their own dining room and program room.

Avesta Development, Capital Health Open in California

Elegance Living is managing a new senior living community from joint partners Avesta Development Group and Capital Health Group in Dublin, California.

The four-story community, Elegance of Dublin has 80 apartments available in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. Rates for residents start at $5,600. Amenities include a restaurant, bistro and wine bar, fitness center, theater, salon and spa outdoor patios and sculpture art on display from artist Matthew Placzek.

Discovery Community in Texas Debuts New Renovations

Discovery Senior Living has unveiled a new million-dollar remodeling project at its Conservatory At Plano community in Plano, Texas.

The work included upgrades to the main and private dining rooms, card room, game and event amenities. It also added a new casual dining venue called the Safari Lounge. Other renovations included corridors, atria and common areas with more contemporary color palettes updates to furniture, carpeting, lighting and fixtures.

Other noteworthy projects:

Planned:

— Merrill Gardens is planning to open a six-story senior living community in Greenville, South Carolina.

— Designs are complete for a new Sunrise Senior Living community in Huntington Station, New York.

— Epoch Senior Living plans to open a 132-unit senior living community in White Plains, New York.

— United Properties is buying land in Minnetonka, Minnesota, for the construction of a new 186-unit community.

— A planning commission in West Hollywood, California, has granted approval for the construction of a new assisted living community there.

— Presbyterian Communities and Services, as Forefront Living is expanding its Presbyterian Village North community in Dallas by adding 112 independent living units in a new building called “The Hawthorne.”

Complete:

— A senior living community is nearing its opening day in Elkins, West Virginia.

— A Commonwealth Senior Living community in South Boston, Virginia, has completed $2.5 in renovations.