Lake Edge Retirement Community partners held a sod turning event last week for the construction of leased condos for retirement aged adults.
Developers officially broke ground at the site on Aug. 10. The homes are now under construction on Kerr Road in the South Hill area.
The project consists of 40 units, which will be built in two phases.
The first phase, which consists of four five-unit buildings available for lease, is expected to be complete by late spring or summer of next year. Phase two will follow.
The homes will cost an estimated $9 million and will employ nearly 75 people within the city.
Lake Estates developer Curtis Lemieux said the project came about when they were having trouble selling condos, so they started to lease them instead.
“It’s an easier way of living, then they don’t have to worry about cleaning their walkways and cutting their grass and all that,” he said. “At the time when they have to go into, whether it’s assisted living or another type of house, it’s just a matter of cancelling the rental and not having to sell the condo.”
Lemieux said they bought land in the area because it’s located near several amenities they’ve found to be important to those in retirement. These include the Alfred Jenkins Field House, the Victoria Hospital, the South Hill Mall and the Rotary Trail.
“We think that we’re going to have a waiting list when we’re done. So far the people who have looked at it have been really happy with what they’ve seen,” said Lemieux.
“The Rotary Trail’s a big thing. We find a lot of seniors, a lot of mature people who are just getting past their age when they don’t work anymore, they like to utilize the rotary trail.”
He said the retirement homes will have a pond with a waterfall, making it a bonus of a nice atmosphere.
Lemieux added they also own property on River Street and have lost residents there because it’s too far away from medical services.
Anyone interested in the retirement homes can call Angelo Minier at (306) 764-3485 for more information.
