ThisWeek UA 2/16/2011
After assuming the role as sole sponsor and operator of First Community Village in December, National Church Residences has followed through on its promise to expand the campus.
At a groundbreaking event on Friday that included NCR and city officials, NCR announced a new, $8-million expansion project at First Community Village on Riverside Drive.
The project will include 32 independent-living manor homes, along with another 13 buildings, which will include additional dining and recreation options. The new patio-style homes will range in size from 1,525 to 1,667 square feet.
“The expansion of the manor homes will enable First Community Village to continue to provide an array of senior living resources across the comprehensive continuum of care,” CEO Thomas Slemmer said.
Columbus-based Corna Kokosing Construction Company will head the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2012, according to NCR spokesman Patrick Higgins.
“The revitalization of First Community Village is an opportunity for us to expand our service offerings and start the next chapter,” Higgins said. “We are very excited to finish out the original scope of the campus.”
Higgins said that he currently has a list of 50 people who have shown interest in the new units, several of whom have already made deposits.
Emma Speight, Upper Arlington deputy city manager for community affairs, said that the expansion is another great option to allow Upper Arlington residents to age in place. While the city is expecting to see a small increase in revenue from the project, Speight said the increased quality of life for seniors that this expansion will bring is the real value.
“This project is great news for UA and we are glad NCR is moving full steam ahead,” Speight said.
NCR is based in Upper Arlington and is a partner with the city on the STAY UA program, which provides residents social services and healthcare to provide seniors the option to age-in-place in their own homes. The company is the nation’s largest not-for-profit developer and manager of affordable senior housing and services, according to its website, with over 330 communities in 28 states and Puerto Rico.
First Community Village was established in 1963; according to the website their goal is to create a caring environment for the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical and social aspects of the Village’s residents.
“[We are] excited to begin the next phase of growth in First Community Village’s long history of service to seniors in the Tri-Village area,” Slemmer said.