<<>>Nautical Lands Group’s work on developing Kingsmere Retirement Suites, at the corner of Industrial Parkway and King Street, has only being visible since last fall. Come September, more than 100 people will call the six-storey development home.>

<<>>Corporate marketing consultant Heather Green said over 200 phone calls have been received from seniors interested in moving in. With the interest, Green said a reservation system has been put in place. So far Nautical Lands has accepted about 20 deposits from people wanting to ensure they get to choose a suite as soon as possible. The deposits are $500 and are fully refundable.>

<<>>Up to now the only marketing tool for the company has been a billboard onsite with a toll free number. >

<<>>Marketers are focusing on getting out into the community more. The feedback marketing manager Sarah Doucet confirms there is a keen interest in the development.>

<<>>“The town has been very excited,” said Doucet. “What we’re trying to do now is become part of the community.”>

<<>>On site, despite high winds and cold weather, work progressed through the winter months according to site superintendent Kevin Burns. The foundations are in place and work is already being done on the second floor. If the weather holds up Burns said the roof should be on by the end of April.>

<<>>When the suites are finished, rooms ranging from 330 square feet for a studio apartment to 711 square feet for a two-bedroom suite will be available. Monthly rates vary from $2,495 to $3,995.>

<<>>While that might sound steep, you have to consider what it includes.>

<<>>Highlights of the building include a private dining room, games room, hair salon, corner store, fitness area, movie theatre - with theatre-style seats, a walking path around the building’s exterior and an attached club house. Each room has a kitchenette and there is a full common kitchen in the clubhouse, although meals are provided and included in the monthly fee.>

<<>>“You can’t go without meals entirely. Basically you have a choice between two or three meals a day,” said Green.>

<<>>Designed for the active senior, programming is important. When it first opens, Green said regular card games and >

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<<>>a walking club will likely be some  of the features.>

<<>>“We’ll start out with what we think they’ll like then adjust as we go along,” said Green.>

<<>>Nautical Lands chose to develop in Alliston because of the small-town atmosphere. >

<<>>With New Tecumseth council now eyeing 60,000 as a target population for 2031, the developer is hoping to capitalize on it.>

<<>>Growth has been predicted for quite some time and targeting the town’s aging demographic isn’t new.>

<<>>Other Alternatives>

<<>>Simcoe Village in Beeton, and Riverwood Retirement Homes in Alliston both offer living arrangements for seniors.><<>> ><<>>Simcoe Village is operated in unison with long-term care facility Simcoe Manor, Home for the Aged. Site administrator Tamara Christie cautions the services it provides are vastly different from that of a retirement home.>

<<>>One of the greatest variances is being run by Simcoe County and receiving funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.>

<<>>“We have what would be the next step up from retirement housing,” said Christie. “Simcoe Village is an assisted living development. >

<<>>To qualify for one of the 32 units in Simcoe Village people must have some medical needs to be cared for. Simcoe Manor has 126 rooms and caters to patients requiring long-term care. >

<<>>Getting into Simcoe Village could be a challenge as the waiting list exceeds 200 people. >

<<>>Depending on your needs, it could be worth the wait to get into the village.>

<<>>One of the greatest benefits Christie identified is for married couples. She said there are couples with one spouse living in the village and the other close by in the manor.>

<<>>For people with deteriorating health, they can start by living in the village with the daily access to health professionals. If health problems persist Christie said it’s then easy to transition into the manor.>

<<>>“They already know the staff and have developed friendships here,” said Christie.>

<<>>Because the Beeton homes receive provincial funding the cost is significantly less than what people would face at a retirement development.>

<<>>Monthly rates at Simcoe Village range from about $1,000 for a single room to $1,058 for a two-bedroom suite.>

<<>>A bed in the long-term care facility is $2,091 a month for private room, a semi-private is $1,787 and a basic, or ward, bed is $1,543 at the most.>

<<>>Other benefits include a Victoria Order of Nurses (VON) day program and it is one of 10 nursing homes in Ontario to offer a peritoneal dialysis clinic on site.>

<<>>Another option for retirement living is Riverwood Retirement Homes in Alliston. >

<<>>Administrator Ruth Green said its services are middle of the spectrum in relation to what the other two facilities offer. >

<<>>“We’re a retirement home with additional nursing services,” said Green.>

<<>>Riverwood has 90 private suites serving seniors. Green said the Riverwood residents fall in the middle of the scale created by Kingsmere and Simcoe Manor. They aren’t necessarily the active seniors targeted by the new development, but don’t require daily medical attention to qualify for Simcoe Village. >

<<>>Nurses are on duty at Riverwood to dispense medications, as are Personal Support Workers. Not all residents are in need of these services. Green said some people come and go as they please, while others require the closer care. >

<<>>“It’s a very homestyle place,” said Green.>

<<>>While the three facilities are competition, each target the differing needs for seniors. And the overwhelming interest in each development shows a definite need for additional services.>

<<>>Christie said the county run development is looking to capitalize on the Aging at Home Strategy, a new provincial initiative, in order to meet the needs of more people in the community.>

<<>>At Kingsmere, the growth projections have furthered the potential it sees for the property.>

<<>>Nautical Lands is aiming to be more than just an upscale apartment building, and Green said there is room on the property for bungalow units to be built.>

<<>>New Tecumseth council has not been approached about a potential expansion. The additional people new development on the property would bring is also not included in any of the projected population growth plans, which already exceeds 40,000 with approved development. There are further projects on the books that council is in the process of approving.>

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