Another 18 units planned

The Ives Hill Retirement Community board of directors plans to build an 18-unit enriched housing facility on its Jewell Drive campus.

Although the board has considered a similar project before, board President Kerry A. Roberge said it means business this time.

"New York state didn't feel we needed an assisted-living facility here, so they said no," he said. "We've been thinking about this for many years."

The group will present the $3.8 million project to the city's Planning Board on Tuesday, and its members are confident they'll soon receive the certificate of need from the state Health Department. Purcell Construction Corp. is the project's general contractor, and GYMO Architecture, Engineering & Land Surveying is the architectural and engineering firm.

Mr. Roberge said the project, named the Lodge at Ives Hill, will include five additional duplex homes for individuals already interested in being a part of the retirement community.

Included in the enriched housing component would be round-the-clock care for residents of those 18 units, which may involve transportation to medical appointments, administering of medication, three meals a day and personal care services such as helping individuals dress or bathe.

Each unit would cost $4,000 to $5,000 per month, and will be self-pay, Mr. Roberge said. Ives Hill Retirement Community does not accept Medicaid or Medicare.

Dianne L. Ward, retirement community executive director, said the Lodge will have 10 studio apartments and eight one-bedroom apartments. The 16,000-square-foot facility also will have a dining room, living room, a spa and salon.

"We have a number of residents in the Ives Hill community area that need a facility like this," Ms. Ward said. "We also know of several other people that would be interested in this so we could build the number."

Mr. Roberge said the board wants to have the project's groundbreaking this fall, with a completion goal of spring 2011.

With the 96 residents Ives Hill has now, the population will grow to 114 once the 18 units are filled, creating the need for additional staff. Christina Schneider, chief financial officer for Purcell Construction, said the project calls for 12 additional full-time staff, including some licensed practical nurses to help administer medication to the Lodge residents. The Retirement Community will offer some shared services from its 13 full-time employees to the enriched housing component to help lower cost of operation.

Mr. Roberge said that if an elderly individual qualifies for the enriched housing part but his or her significant other who has been the primary caretaker does not, the caretaker could stay in the retirement community and be close to the loved one.

"It'd give that person a little breathing room," he said.

Kate R. Couch, board member, said having enriched housing on campus has been a part of Ives Hill's mission "so our people can stay local." Ms. Ward said that, in many cases, individuals who need that kind of care now have to relocate to Canton or Syracuse or even out of state.

The project is smaller than other enriched housing projects, Mr. Roberge said, but units can be added if needed. Ms. Ward said there is plenty of space on campus for future construction, which could include units for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer's.

Financing will come mostly from banks, Mr. Roberge said, as well as from individuals in the community who previously mentioned their willingness to contribute to the project.

Once considered a possible site for the construction of a facility for Community Assisted Living Corp.'s 31 available enriched housing beds, Ives Hill went ahead with its own project. Ms. Ward, who is on the corporation's board of directors, said it has been very supportive of the Lodge and is happy to see such a facility come to Jefferson County.