This is the third senior living expansion at Berkeley Square since 2020, and including Serenity Drive, Community First Solutions has invested $19 million in the projects, said spokeswoman Danielle Webb. The new housing was needed because those in the Boomer generation, and even the older Generation X population, are growing older and still want to have independent living, just without the hassles that come with homeownership.
And really, the projects came down two demographics, said Community First Director of Sales Katie Crank.
“There are a lot more older adults now and they want a different type of lifestyle,” she said." “Homeownership is a young person’s game.”
Credit: Michael D. Pitman
Credit: Michael D. Pitman
The 55 and older community is maintenance-free living, and as life has become more expensive, from property taxes and assessments to insurance, “everybody is getting this sticker shock. To maintain the homes they’ve lived in for a long time is just really expensive, and they’re probably living in just 25% of it,” she said.
Webb said before any project, they conduct market studies. They don’t have another housing expansion project lined up as they expect more will be needed.
“We know people are moving here younger, and they want more space,” she said. “To be able to personalize their spaces and vision their dream retirement home, it’s a unique product in a growing market.”
Of the 24 homes, only five remain to be sold.
“I think people have gotten more wise and educated to the fact that as they get older and to be around other people and be engaged and have activities is even more valuable than keeping the beautiful family home you raised your kids in,” Crank said.
As Community First Solutions, which began more than a century ago, was undergoing its largest expansion project on the Berkeley Square campus, it was expanding in other ways.
Credit: Michael D. Pitman
Credit: Michael D. Pitman
In September 2023, Community First acquired Montage Mason (formerly Anthology of Mason). Community First Solutions then entered a new partnership in November 2023 with Kettering Health Senior Living Sycamore Glen in the Greater Dayton area.
Nearly a year later, in August, Community First added The Patterson in Beavercreek (formerly HarborChase of Beavercreek) to its portfolio.
“So we’ve onboarded 400 residents and almost 275 employees in the exact same timeframe,” Webb said of the Serenity Drive development.
Because of this, the not-for-profit is focusing on something other than construction. Webb said they’re planning a roll out of a new memory care program at all the Community First campuses. She said while they do a great job on the clinical side of memory care, the program will focus on developing the programming and lifestyle aspects.
“It’s all around sensory components and different technology,” she said.
As for a pause in new construction, Crank said, “It’ll be nice for residents to not live in a construction zone for a minute. They understand when you’re the first residents to move in on a project, you probably have the best choice for your house, but you have to watch all the other houses being built. It’s kind of nice to see this one (project) be buttoned up.”
The Community First executive team has been researching as to what could be the next construction step, but Webb said, “We don’t have a firm plan in place because it depends on the market,” and how they can maximize the remaining acres of land.
Credit: Michael D. Pitman
Credit: Michael D. Pitman
Credit: Michael D. Pitman
Credit: Michael D. Pitman
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