![\"Grantville](\"https:\/\/missiontimescourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/senior-housing.jpg\")
<\/a>Wakeland project manager Jonathan Taylor presented a basic plan for the complex, which he called \u201cGlacier Avenue mixed use.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so early in the development that we don\u2019t have a clever name for it yet,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The project is a mixed-use building with approximately 75 residential units for medically frail seniors who have experienced or are at risk of becoming homeless.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe site is about 1 acre and according to initial yield studies, we would be able to fit about 100 units on the site, but at this point we\u2019re proposing about 75,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n
Besides the residential apartments, the building will also house a 6,700-square-foot alternative care facility operated by St. Paul\u2019s PACE for the benefit of residents and neighbors who are participants in PACE (Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly).<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is similar to a clinic, but it\u2019s not a state-regulated clinic. It is actually a federally regulated clinic that\u2019s part of the PACE program, which is a national program, operated locally by St. Paul\u2019s,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
PACE is a Medicare and Medicaid program that helps people meet their health care needs in the community instead of going to a nursing home or other care facility.<\/p>\n
Taylor said the type of the project is called \u201cpermanent supported housing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe folks that live there will rent their apartment unit just like anybody else with a lease, but also will be provided with supportive services in order for them to live successfully in that apartment,\u201d he said. \u201cOur service partner is St. Paul\u2019s and they will be operating this facility onsite for the purpose of caring for folks who reside in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The onsite clinic will be part of St. Paul\u2019s PACE program and service local seniors in the community beyond the residents who live in the apartments. St. Paul\u2019s transports seniors in the program from their private residences to medical clinics and other important errands. The proposed clinic parking design allows for off-street passenger loading and unloading for easy operations of PACE vans.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou may be familiar with the St. Paul\u2019s PACE vans,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cThey\u2019re the teal green vans you see providing transportation for participants to PACE clinics.\u201d<\/p>\n
As of now, the proposed project will have 62 parking spaces \u2014 26 spaces for the clinic, accessed from Mission Gorge Road, and 36 residential spaces accessed from the alley.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is more parking than we actually need,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cMost of the residents will not have cars but nonetheless, per regulations, we do need to provide some parking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although Wakeland is delivering adequate parking, they could have provided less by taking advantage of state low-income housing density bonus rules that would allow them to build a more dense project and get waivers for parking spaces, but Taylor said they are not considering it at this time.<\/p>\n
What the project will include at this time is a four-floor building with PACE clinic and common areas on ground floor and three floors of residential above it; pedestrian access from Glacier Avenue; easy, secured access to the units; centrally located lobby with direct pedestrian and parking access; two stairwells; and 5-foot-wide planted parkways; 10-foot-wide sidewalks; foundation planter beds; and storefront windows for a view of the neighborhood.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ground-floor level will be a very glassy, inviting, open area,\u201d Taylor said, adding that Wakeland is working with Studio E Architects on the design of the building, which will be similar to a recent project the two firms completed in San Diego called Talmadge Gateway.<\/p>\n
Wakeland\u2019s timeline for the project starts by finalizing acquisition of the project by the first quarter of 2018; completing the financing and plan development during the rest of 2018; and begining construction the first quarter of 2019. Construction will take around 18 months and Taylor said he hopes the project will be open in late 2020, although he admitted that would be unlikely.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be an incredible best-case scenario that everything would line up and we would be able to actually break ground that soon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n