With the final development plan for an upcoming 33-acre retirement community set to be built at 1948 N. Ellsworth Ave. off U.S. Route 62 by Shepherd of the Valley approved by city council the project is expected to begin work in July. Over a year in the making, the community is expected to house 104 full-time residents between its assisted living and independent living units. (Photos by Morgan Ahart)

SALEM — The final plan for the 33-acre retirement community set to be built at 1948 N. Ellsworth Ave. off of U.S. Route 62 by Shepherd of the Valley has been approved.

With approval from the planning commission secured on June 9, the final hurdle for the project was officially cleared with city council approval in their June 10 meeting. The plans for the community were first discussed in December of 2023 when Shepherd presented the planning commission with a request to rezone the property from C-2 general to RA multiple family, a request that was subsequently granted by the city council in January of 2024.

The community is planned to include a central club house, a one-story assisted living building, independent living condo villas, and a three-story 52-unit apartment building, and may be expanded in the future with a skilled nursing facility in the next four to five years. Architect Andy Beidler said that the assisted living building would be separated into three wings, each housing twelve residents for a total of 36, and that likewise the villas would house 36 residents while the apartment will house 32 for a total of 104 residents.

“When you enter the site you’ll enter from the west side, there’s a figure-eight loop that goes around the center and the first thing you’ll encounter is the club house which has a restaurant, fitness center, a theater and things of that sort to serve the entire community,” said Beidler

Construction will be conducted in four phases with phase one A and B to include the construction of site-wide infrastructural elements and roadways. Phase two will include the construction of independent living condos, with assisted living facilities and the central clubhouse to follow in phase three. The fourth and final phase of the initial project will include the construction of the apartment building.

Councilman Andrew Null asked if there was an anticipated start-date for construction and Beidler said that it would likely begin in July with “an early site-package where the initial construction would begin” with the construction of the first villa in phase two not expected “until later on in the year.” Shepherd of the Valley Chief Executive Officer Rich Limongi said that there would be an official groundbreaking on Sept. 17.

City council voted unanimously to approve a resolution approving the planning commission’s decision and adopting the final development plan for the project with the emergency clause, meaning that it will take effect immediately and eschew the typical 30-day waiting period.

The city council will meet next at 7 p.m. on July 1.