Senior housing in Ellenville - Westfair Communications

Ask anyone over 62 what their biggest challenge is, and the answer will most likely be “an affordable place to live with a store I can walk to.”

For seniors who live in Ellenville, which is off the beaten path in Ulster county, that”™s one item on their wish list about to come true, thanks to a partnership between Ellenville Regional Hospital, Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) and developer Jonah Mandelbaum.

Mandelbaum, who has created a niche market in senior housing, is building the 144-unit, four-story apartment complex just off Route 209 on the access road leading to Ellenville Regional.

The complex, already under construction, consists of three phases. Fifty-five units will be ready for occupancy by September, with the remaining 49 apartments to be built in the next two rounds of construction and completed by 2009.

With $3.15 million from CPC, a not-for-profit mortgage lender that finances affordable housing in the tri-state area, Mandelbaum is creating a one-stop affordable housing center for Ellenville seniors. Not only will they have access to hospital services, but the shopping center across the street, including a supermarket, is within walking distance.

The complex will include onsite parking, a laundry area and a community room, with rents ranging from $210 to $560 a month, depending upon income.

Mandelbaum won high marks from CPC”™s Sadie McKeown, the regional director of its Hudson Valley office. Among his senior projects are Monroe Commons in Monroe (Orange County); Regency Manor in Monticello (Sullivan County); and several others scattered in the region. This is Mandelbaum”™s eighth partnership with CPC to build affordable housing. “He”™s got well-earned reputation for building high-quality, well-designed housing for seniors.”

“We have a list of about 250 people who are interested in the apartments and over 100 applications have been submitted,” said Deborah Briggs, spokeswoman for the hospital. For more information about Ellenville”™s new senior housing, call 647-6400.