Work to begin on new residential and wellness community near Liberty Hospital

Construction is set to officially begin Tuesday on the $66 million first phase of a residential and wellness community near Liberty Hospital that will include housing options for seniors, young families and active adults.

The initial part of what developers are calling a “multigenerational wellness and residential living neighborhood” will include 60 assisted-living residences with 20 dedicated to memory support, 20 skilled-nursing and long-term care residences, and 40 short-term recovery suites for individuals of all ages going through rehabilitation.

A 50,000-square-foot healthy living center will also be built and serve as the “town square” of the project, along with a cafe, according to a news release that described the project.

The wellness center will feature a yoga and Pilates studio, a cardiac and strength area, a track, a lap pool and spa, and a children’s area where parents can drop their children off while they work out or receive physical therapy.

Memberships will be offered to adults and companies interested in employee health programs.

The 17-acre project, adjacent to Liberty Hospital, is being developed by Steve Shields, the chief executive of Action Pact. The hospital and Healthy Living Centers of America are partners in the project.

About 140 jobs are expected to be created over three years in the first phase alone, the developers said.

The initial phase is scheduled to be completed by early summer of 2017, the developers said. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, and the name of the development will also be announced.

Shields called the master-planned community the first of its kind because “it will give different generations the opportunity to improve their health together and inspire one another. … An athlete will work out next to a senior recovering from a stroke while a mother drops her daughter off in the children’s area so she can meet a friend to participate in a yoga class.”

David Feess, the hospital’s president and chief executive, said the project “will help us further integrate valuable health care services into the community, while focusing on prevention and assisting Northland residents currently managing chronic conditions.”

Construction of the second phase, which will include independent-living and other housing options for all ages, is scheduled to begin after the first phase is completed, developers said. The total cost of the second phase has not yet been determined.

This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 1:31 PM with the headline "Work to begin on new residential and wellness community near Liberty Hospital."