Archived Story
Upscale senior project proposed
Published 9:26am Tuesday, February 26, 2013Complex would offer 90 units
ROME TOWNSHIP — A second senior living complex for the eastern end of Lawrence County is in the works as a Columbus-based company has announced plans for a $12 million project.
Chancellor Health Partners Inc. plans to build Wyngate Senior Living at River’s Edge, a 90-apartment complex across from the Lawrence County Fairgrounds, with groundbreaking expected in the spring.
The community will be made up of 30 independent living apartments overlooking the Ohio River; 40 assisted living apartments and 20 units for Alzheimer’s patients.
Those choosing the independent living arrangement will have an apartment with private patio or balcony. Meals and housekeeping services will be offered on site.
The assisted living units will have 24-hour oversight and nursing staff, housekeeping and three meals daily. Those eligible for this arrangement typically need help with bathing, dressing, cooking, eating or walking.
Also on the campus will be a 4,000-square-foot urgent care center operated by Cabell Huntington Hospital. That facility will serve Wyngate residents as well as the community.
This announcement comes just about a month after the Pirhl Developers of Cleveland proposed an assisted living complex for senior citizens only a few miles from the Chancellor project.
The Pirhl project would offer 40 to 50 units on a site across from the Fairland East Elementary School. The project, which is being touted as affordable senior housing, is expected to cost $8 million and would be in partnership with the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization. Also part of the project would be a senior center open to the surrounding communities and the only one in the eastern end of the county since the closure of the Sybene Senior Center this past summer.
This project would be located adjacent to the St. Mary’s Medical Center modular family practice and dentistry clinics.
The Lawrence County Commissioners have already given their support to this project by agreeing to invest up to $150,000 over a two-year period of its Community Development Block Grants. Of that funding $100,000 would go toward a sanitary sewer line expansion to the project and possible subsequent developments in the area.
However, community leaders see a need for both projects in an area that they call underserved as far as providing senior services.
“I am really excited about it and glad to hear it,” Commissioner Freddie Hayes said. “We need it there. There is nothing up there like that.”
Commissioner Bill Pratt contends the area is able to support services from two competing medical centers.
“They have two hospitals across the river,” Pratt said. “This will be a different type of senior housing, all private pay with no Medicaid, for a different group of people.
“It is great for the county, great for Rome, great for seniors. It will really benefit Lawrence County.”
If your so successful in business why would you want to be a elected official?
The whole deal reeks of cronyism. If it waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck. 9 of 10 times its a duck
Nothing wrong with selling property. But selling a parcel that requires a 100,000 sewer upgrade then the other two Commissioners voting to apply a 150,000 Block Grant to the property seems kinda shadey don’t you think? Abstaining his vote shows that this was not ethical for the Board to do this.
Voters keep your eyes open. You can never have faith that a elected official will act on your behalf.
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BH, I don’t count government growing as progress since I’m footing the bill, but I’m guessing I’m with you on some of the specific private business issues u speak of. I could venture a guess or two. I’m just not sure this is one of them, hope not anyway. Both projects seem positive to me.
I’ll give you that govt has a role in bringing in business, at least the way the game is played now. Any business that comes to town has its hand out, so if we’re gonna bring them here we gotta play that game or see them go else where. Why else is CAO in the middle of anything big that comes down the pipe? That’s their game. I figure if we can’t beat em join em. For now. I’d like to see my family be able to get a job here instead of having to leave to make a living.
Just hate to hear people trashing what could be real progress. I grant that it’s sexy that a sitting commissioner owns the property, I’m just not giving him credit or blame. He just sold a lot as far as we know. Big deal.
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Here’s the problem SRG, many republicans claim big government cannot create jobs. They laughed when Obama said “no one builds a business without help”. Then they turn around and use government money to help build private businesses. I hope both these projects are great successes. However, how many times have we seen “our” grant money help build these businesses only to see them leave the county high and dry?
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You are right, it always leaves the county high and dry and a few individuals with more money in their own pocket while taxes are raised to help support the lack of money to keep the county running.
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I’ve always theorized that most people either don’t read these blogs, or if they do only for a laugh. I hope I’m right about that.
Development and industry is a good thing. The idea anyone should apologize for that is odd.
I guess as long as angry people can just make something up with no information and foam at the mouth about it, those who try to accomplish anything will need a thick hide.
If elected officials support development its corruption. If a wealthy investor considers coming here, its someone getting fleeced.
Oh but we deserve to see a feasability study before we give our ‘all important’ stamp of approval. Why? Here’s a hint, developers don’t want just anyone to have the information they have, they paid to develop the info and they don’t have to share it. And why would the local govt care. If someone is willing to spend 12 million, or 8 million and we just need to kick in some grant dollars for sewer, who cares? Its so small compared to total. Maybe the investor should go somewhere else?
The Hayes family owns half of the undeveloped property in Lawrence County. That’s long before Freddie Jr. had anything to do with it. Anyone who tries to develop anything around here will end up talking to them about a parcel half the time. I’d bet they had nothing to do with it until the developer had a real estate agent call them. Is our standard now that people from successful business families cant serve in office?
Those doing all the complaining here, don’t have one single piece of information. They just read the article, feel jealous, and make up the rest.
Sorry, I got sucked in.
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Dunce.
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At this point I feel incredibly blessed to be an optimistic person who can see the good in others without conjuring up obscene fantasies of corruption. In fact, praise The Lord for that.
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I am disgusted with County Commissioners in regards to this project for many reasons and I’ll list them for you Mr. Pratt,
1. First and foremost, I am appalled by elected officials disregard for the unethical financing of a project that benefits a county commissioner.
2. Second, I am deeply disturbed that there is no feasibility report or study that indicates any of these projects were studied prior to initiation or agreement to use block grant funds, no study to indicate the project’s success, how they will be managed, how OHIO seniors will not be exploited financially, if the developer’s existing projects are ethical and above board, or even if seniors from WV, KY and other states will be able to troll across the river to OHIO and take advantage of housing after taxpayer funds were utilized for OHIO SENIOR HOUSING.
3. It is not uncommon for the elderly to become victims of financial abuse. They may be losing — or already have lost — some of their cognitive ability, and their judgment may be clouded. The perpetrator can be anyone from a stranger to a friend, caretaker, relative, developers, contractors, health care businesses, or trusted financial advisor. I have heard absolutely nothing that reassures me this will not occur.
4. Senior housing should be affordable to all seniors like low-income housing — based on an individual’s income. Asking for $100,000 deposit and $1500 a month, is not my idea of ‘helping’ seniors but yet there are senior housing projects in the area that are doing just that. Yes, the wealthy can afford it but if they make their deposit and die a week later, the facility keeps the deposit – jackpot.
5. I think the other commenters have thoroughly covered the predatory nature of the health care industry in the Ohio River Valley.
6. I will gladly provide a ‘positive’ spin when elected officials have accomplished their due diligence to taxpayers and senior citizens instead of gratifying the non-existent ‘needs’ of another elected official. For now, I stand by my comments as a taxpayer, voter and citizen.
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Would love to see the average monthly charge to stay in this “upscale” senior project.
Absolutely nothing wrong with such a project, just not for your average senior.
And this article did point this out.
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This Comission has no balance. They just do whats popular among themselves. Surely the 100.000 to run the sewer line to Freddies land could be better spent elsewhere in the county. Let Freddie foot the bill on that. Don’t spend grant money like it’s your own. Just because Freddie abstained his vote doesn’t make it right. Politics as usual. Exercizing the 1st Admendment, Thank you, good day.
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I can say my tone was not purely about politics either. But in all fairness this project is about politics even if it is denied.
My comments which seem to have been removed were about reality of the entire notion. If you can PROVE without any doubt that any of the commissioners will not profit financially from this deal then let’s see it. That doesn’t mean shuffle paperwork around to make it look good either.
My comments were made because I feel using our seniors as an excuse to make this “upscale” facility is a smoke screen. And that is what upsets me about it. I could care less if it’s a republican or democrat backing the idea. I’m saying don’t use our seniors and don’t belittle those that live in this area that are not in that “upscale” category. Obviously there was some truth to my statement as it was removed and it had no reason to be. Wonder if it will now magically reappear so as to not make it look so obvious?
Mr. Pratt you can say all you want but as the saying goes “the proof is in the pudding” and when it’s all said and done that’s when the truth will be out for those wanting to use it politically can hop all over it.
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Bleedingheart,
I’ll have to admit that when I saw the article I worried that my quote would appear insensitive. To be honest, I was responding to a question from the reporter asking if both developments could coexist when aiming for the same demographic. Using the term “different groups” by my admission, was a poor choice of words. It wasn’t my intention to offend anyone but I certainly understand how it could. I apologize for that.
Nevertheless, I stand by my comments that it will great for seniors and our county.
Good day.
Bill Pratt
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Mr. Commissioner, I can assure you that my comments were not political. The term you used, “a different group of people” offended me. If one runs out of money or loses retirement benefits will they have to move down the road to the “poor” senior complex? Will the urgent care center be available only to the “different group of people” ? Will the rich people of the complex allow Medicaid patients to be treated there?
One of the problems with our health care system is duplication of services. We see it everywhere. Bellefonte opens a clinic, so Kings’ Daughters, St. Mary’s, Cabell Huntington, etc. all have to open one next door. No wonder health care costs are so high.
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The comments presented here have reached a new low for you gentlemen and lady. All four of you make very insightful comments but in this instance the negative tone seems purely political. Why else would such a positive story be spun to be so bad?
As an elected official, I have oftentimes expressed my desire to help our senior population not because I am a politician, but because I am a grandson. I supported a senior levy not because I would benefit, as a republican, but because our seniors would stand to benefit from the services it would have made possible. Our county now stands as one of 16 in the state that doesn’t have a senior levy. Even so, I respect the will of our voters, yet I have worked hard to develop ideas and other avenues to help our senior population. Both of these projects will help to fill a void for senior options for housing and care. In fact, both developers have procured studies that point out this area of our county as lacking in both. It is important that these projects will serve seniors of different socioeconomic capabilities. We have committed CDBG federal funds for the project proposed by Pirhl Developers to extend the Union/Rome sanitary sewer to reach the site and to insure this site provides a public area that will provide congregate meals for our seniors.
I must say that I have had no influence on the sites picked by either development, but when informed of the sites, I have worked to make the process as smooth as possible, just as would happen with any business that chooses Lawrence County for a location. We are fortunate to have companies of this caliber viewing our area as a place they would like to locate. Both will provide our seniors options for living and care and both will bring jobs to our community.
Your Lawrence County Board of Commissioners is and will continue to be committed to bettering the lives of our citizens. I have said on different occasions that I don’t want our seniors to say that they were fortunate enough to grow old but unfortunate enough to do it in Lawrence County. I’m working to make sure that isn’t the case.
Thanks for reading.
Bill Pratt
Lawrence County Commissioner
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These commenters are very observant. The title to this article ‘Upscale’ certainly does not bring to mind the ‘underserved’ or ‘low-income’ which the community block grant funds are to be used for. Go ahead and use the money gentlemen, I’m positive someone will file a complaint with the feds, in fact, an audit of past projects might be noteworthy.
In my opinion, our senior citizens deserve our respect and our ethical consideration for their care. What that means is not being taken advantage of by ‘get rich schemes’ devised by large companies and county commissioners that want to develop their land and take senior’s life savings. Does anyone really believe that the developers are locating a project here because they have the best interest of our seniors at heart — NO, they see money to be made. Just like the WV hospitals that spend enough in advertising to care for several counties full of people in their own state. My god, people, yet another medical facility in our county. What a freakin monopoly of health care money grubbers.
How many ‘low income’ seniors without thousands in their bank accounts are going to live at the ‘UPSCALE’ facility?
I think what pisses me off more than anything is the way in which the project is presented — as if all of this is for our seniors when in reality it is for the greedy individuals that have devised it.
Anytime citizens read about a project, a murder, a criminal activity, ask yourself one question – who benefits? Cui bono
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Really Mr. Commissioner,”A different group of people”? Let’s see, both complexes are for assisted living for the elderly. The only difference I see in the “group of people” would be money. You could have just as easily said, “No Medicaid only rich people”.
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Increasing the voters in eastern part of the county one bed at a time. Freddie must own that land also.
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