Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Developer Proposes Residential Community For Senior Adults
UNITS WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO THOSE 55-PLUS
PRAIRIE GROVE — An idea conceived separately by two local residents to provide a senior living community in Prairie Grove for those 55 and older is off the table and in preliminary stages to possibly become a reality.
Pat Lyle of Prairie Grove lost her husband, Buddy Lyle, two years ago and later moved into a smaller place. She said, though, there are still times it is a lot of work and costs to maintain her home add up.
An active member of Prairie Grove Senior Activity and Wellness Center, Lyle said she constantly hears senior adults say they wish they could move from their houses so they wouldn’t have as much upkeep.
Her sister-in-law and husband live in a senior living community in Charleston called Skyler Estates and they love it, Lyle said.
“If they want to go somewhere, they get in the car and go away,” Lyle said.
Lyle would like to see the same type senior living community in Prairie Grove.
Jerry Coyle, a local contractor, said he has been thinking about such a place in Prairie Grove for many years.
“When I found out Pat was interested, I thought maybe this is the Lord’s timing that we need to do
something like this,” Coyle said.
He and others visited Skyler Estates and his preliminary drawings show a similar place in Prairie Grove.
The development would have duplexes with one- and two- bedroom units with garages. One-bedroom units would have about 950 square feet and two-bedroom units would have 1,300 square feet. Coyle would serve as contractor and the facility would be owned and developed by Cold Creek Development. Coyle and Mark Beavers are partners in the firm.
Coyle and Lyle put together a meeting at the senior center and asked any interested in a senior housing community to come to get more information. About 40 people showed up at the meeting held earlier this month.
Coyle said Cold Creek Development has a real estate contract on 15 acres south of Prairie Grove Health and Rehab Center on Mock Street. The contract is contingent on the city rezoning the land from agricultural to residential.
His concept shows the first phase would have 24 units on about four acres. The development would have a community center. Each duplex would have a 20- foot setback from the street with a 60-foot backyard.
Residents would lease their units on a month-bymonth lease. The monthly lease would include utilities and appliances, such as washer and dryer. Residents would not be responsible for maintaining any yards or landscaping. In addition, Coyle said, staff with the firm would be available to help with some inside jobs, such as changing light bulbs in the ceiling and changing air filters.
Skyler Estates’ units are smaller than those proposed by Coyle. The Charleston facility charges about $ 1,100 for two bedrooms and $ 800 for a one- bedroom unit. Coyle told those at the meeting his goal would be to charge monthly leases comparable to Skyler Estates but actual fees would depend on development costs.
He said he realizes there is a price point for senior adults who are living on a fixed income and wants to keep monthly leases as low as possible.
“We’re doing this for investment purposes, we want to make a little money,” Coyle said, “but we’re also wanting to do it because we’re members of this community as well.”
His proposal is to have wide doorways and wide hallways to accommodate senior adults, with possibly some of the units designed to be handicapped accessible. Other ideas are upgrades in countertops and flooring. He asked those at the meeting to give him their thoughts on willingness to pay for upgrades in design.
Coyle’s other request was to ask people if they would be willing to commit to being “very interested” in living in such a development. A signature would not be binding but would be used to show a bank there is interest in the project.
“We can’t just say, ‘build it and they will come,’” Coyle said.
Lyle is excited about Coyle’s plans, saying she believes she would move to such a development at some point in the future.
“I cannot think of anything else that Prairie Grove needs that is more important,” Lyle said. “I had no idea there were this many retired people here.”
Linda Willkie, senior center director, agrees there is a need for 55-plus housing in Prairie Grove.
“There comes a time you can’t take care of everything,” Willkie said. “Once the baby boomers start retiring, it will be crazy. Many people want to downsize and not worry about taking care of a house and a yard.”
If plans proceed, Coyle said he hopes to start construction in spring 2017.