Senior complex planned in Wasilla

WASILLA — Area seniors may have a new high-end housing option come spring 2009.

Howard Nugent of Nugent Properties of Wasilla plans to develop a $13.5 million to $15 million branch of the Primrose Retirement Communities — a plan that has found success with more than 14 developments across the Midwest. The project was introduced to the Wasilla Planning Commission recently and is scheduled for a Nov. 27 public hearing at Wasilla City Hall.

“We’re looking forward to breaking ground and providing service to the Valley,” Nugent said.

Although Nugent originally planned to develop and manage a senior-based community himself, he eventually decided to join the Primrose family as Primrose of Wasilla after learning of the quality and usefulness of the company’s management.

If city council approves the plans as recommended by the city planning comission, Primrose of Wasilla will be located west of Lucille Street and north of Elkhorn Drive on a 9.9-acre parcel of land, according to Jim Holycross, Wasilla city planner. It will include 76 living spaces with 36 independent living apartments, 32 assisted-living apartments and eight townhouse villas.

Studio and one-bedroom apartments reserved for assisted living will feature 500 to 550 square feet of space, Nugent Properties reports. Along with kitchenettes and handicap-accessible bathrooms, the apartments will feature specialized amenities like handrails to help seniors be comfortable and safe.

In addition to individual apartments, the development includes a common area for both assisted and independent living units. Although separate commons will exist, tenants can mingle in both areas. The assisted-living common area will include a whirlpool spa room, activity room, television lounge and dining room.

Holycross said Nugent’s plan is impressive, among the top 10 percent of projects he has reviewed.

“They’re going way beyond what they’re required to have,” Holycross said. “So this is a good thing.”

There are several parts of the proposal that show Nugent’s effort to provide a quality development, he said. The developer plans to retain some of the surrounding vegetation, which will help to limit noise and light pollution from escaping the area. The plan also calls for 60 additional trees to be planted.

“Overall, it’s desirable because it reduces the on-site impact with this type of development,” Holycross said. For example, if single-family homes or duplexes were built on the same piece of land the population would be much larger than that of the retirement community. As a senior community, surrounding neighbors won’t see as much impact from traffic or activity.

Nugent said the community will produce 30 percent of the traffic usually created by a regular residential area of the same size. Besides minimizing impact, Nugent said he feels it is important to create a comfortable and convenient community for seniors. Rental rates for the Wasilla units haven’t been determined.

“They want something that feels like home, they want quality and they don’t want an institution,” he said.

With fewer than 80 seniors living on the campus, Nugent said the community will project the small-town atmosphere that exists in the Valley.

Robin Hall, executive director of Wasilla Area Seniors, welcomes any new services for seniors in the Mat-Su Valley.

“I think it will benefit the community greatly because we have a senior population that’s growing,” Hall said.

Hall also hope to “lock arms” with Primrose and all other local senior services to provide the best services possible for area seniors.

Construction on Primrose of Wasilla retirement community is scheduled to begin in April 2008 and is planned for completion in April 2009, Nugent said. In addition to Wasilla, Soldotna and Fairbanks are also future locations for Primrose senior housing. The Soldotna location has already been selected, approved and is scheduled for a similar completion date. The company is in the process of locating a parcel for the Fairbanks development.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow@-frontiersman.com or 352-2284.