Highland Square, the $100 million assisted living, medical office and retail complex proposed by DES Developers L.L.C. ”“ for 22 acres located at the northeastern corner of Routes 299 and 9W in Lloyd ”“ is back on track with shovels now in the ground.
The proposal suffered a hiccup of sorts in June when the Lloyd town planning board refused to approve a “Planned Unit Development” designation for the project, despite strong approval from the town board and the Ulster County Planning Board. However, weeks later, after further consultation and a threat by the developer to file an Article 78 lawsuit, the planning board unanimously reversed itself.
The site was geared, under a preliminary plan, for a retail shopping plaza anchored by a supermarket or hotel. But market conditions led DES Developers of Wappingers Falls to scrap that idea in favor of a three-story, assisted-living facility with a small retail strip mall on site designed to serve the needs of the residents and workers there.
The complex will divide the plot into three lots for financing purposes, with lot No. 1 housing a 3.5-story, 220-bed assisted-living center with medical facilities and associated parking. The second lot would house a one-story, 6,600-square-foot bank; and lot No. 3 containing an approximately 105,000- square-foot retail, restaurant and office complex. The buildings on lot No. 3 will be one and two stories.
The plans call for one signalized access driveway for all three lots.
The project has now received all its approvals and construction began July 12. Occupancy is expected in the final quarter of 2011.
