People Inc. breaks ground for senior living apartments in Springville

SPRINGVILLE — A ground-breaking ceremony was held on Thursday, Aug. 23 for the new Orchard Senior Living apartments, to be located at 276 Waverly St. in Springville.

After an unsuccessful attempt to develop this senior living opportunity in the town of Orchard Park in 2007, People Inc. began working with the village of Springville and surrounding areas in 2010, to provide safe, affordable senior living for Springville and its adjacent communities.

“Due to the unfortunate controversy in the town of Orchard Park, we took the $6 million dollar award to the village of Springville where they greeted us with open arms,” said Rhonda Frederick, People Inc. chief operating officer. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Springville, its business community and especially its aging people that want to stay in an area where they raised their families.”

Frederick spoke to an assembled group of Springville and Concord elected officials, Springville Area Chamber of Commerce representatives, People Inc. staff members and employees, representatives from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and other participants, as the group officially broke ground on the Waverly Street site.

“This area should be so proud of their commitment to seniors and we applaud that commitment. This will make 43 people very happy and we are incredibly happy to become a part of this community,” Frederick said.

Springville Mayor Bill Krebs said he was also pleased that the project has come to fruition.

“Springville is a residential center ... strategically located at the intersection of two major state highways,” he said.

“There are about 2,500 senior citizens over the age of 62 living within a 5-mile radius of Springville. The largest growing segment of the population is 65 and older ... this residence is unlike any other affordable senior housing in Springville in scope and size. It will allow aging in place, so that we can keep the value that senior citizens bring to our community in Springville.”

Concord Supervisor Gary Eppolito said, “When I heard about People Inc. doing battle in Orchard Park, I thought to myself, ‘Why not come here? We’d welcome them in Springville.’ There’s a big need here and it’s so exciting to see them come here to serve that. My own mom is in [the target demographic] and she had to move out of town. I’m so thankful we have it here, now.”

Eppolito also said that the Concord Town Board has been discussing the possibility of establishing a senior center next door to the new facility, which he said he hopes to construct within the next two years.

According to Nicole Forgione, the public affairs manager for People Inc., applicants will be evaluated according to federally-mandated guidelines on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“This facility will allow seniors to stay in southern Erie County, to be close to their families, but if a senior wanted to move to Springville, this facility would allow that individual to do that, as well,” she said. Although the facility is not yet accepting applications, Forgione said that a preliminary list is available for those who want to get advance information on the new housing opportunity.

Orchard Senior Living is People Inc’s 18th facility. It will be open to seniors age 62 and older who meet the federally-mandated income guidelines.

Once construction is completed, the facility will include 42 one–bedroom apartments that are handicap adaptable, with a unit specifically designed for individuals who are vision and/or hearing impaired. Additionally, a community room, laundry facilities, secure entrance with key cards and a 24-hour on-call emergency service will be provided.

The rental apartments will consist of one bedroom, a kitchen, a living and dining area and an accessible bathroom. The smoke-free environment is expected to take 10 months to complete and will open in spring 2013.

The parent organization operates senior living apartment complexes in Akron, Amherst, Angola, Blasdell, Cheektowaga, Clarence, Grand Island, Hamburg, Lackawanna, Lockport, Orchard Park, North Buffalo, South Buffalo, West Seneca and Wheatfield.

People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to more than 10,000 people with special needs, their families and seniors throughout Western New York.