Work on $150M senior living complex to get under way

If all goes well, construction on the North Street Community senior living complex in White Plains should begin in June.

North Street Community L.L.C., the owner and developer of the site, and the city of White Plains are in the final stages of a site plan review for the $150 million project, said Geoff Thompson, a spokesman for the developers.

The senior housing community, planned for the site of the former St. Agnes Hospital, would consist of 335 condominium units, 92 assisted-living units and about 20 units for Alzheimer”™s patients.

In addition, 6 percent of the units will be “affordable” based on the city”™s affordable housing guidelines.

The 150,000-square-foot former hospital would be converted for the 92 assisted-living residents, consisting of 84 one-bedroom unites, eight two-bedroom units and approximately 20 units for people with Alzheimer”™s disease.

The 41,200-square-foot Carvel Children”™s Rehabilitation Center built in 1996 will remain on the property. Parking for its staff will be increased from 95 to 105 spaces and incorporated into one of the sites new subsurface garages, Thompson said.

Four other buildings on the site are scheduled to be demolished. The maximum height of the residential buildings on the property will be six stories.

Additionally, the minimum age requirement for buyers was raised last month to 60, from 55.

The project will take approximately 20 months to complete, according to the developer.

Alfred Caiola, a partner of North Street Community, said there is a need in White Plains for this type of senior housing.

“Many of (the city”™s seniors) had told us that they wanted the opportunity to downsize and live in a senior community in the city they love,” Caiola said in a statement. “We are excited to turn this vision into a reality for White Plains seniors and it will address a very strong demographic need. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by the year 2010, at least 15 percent of the White Plains population will be over the age of 65. We”™ll be ready for some of them.”

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