YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
The Elfindale retirement community is filling a gap in its service model with a $13 million assisted living center.
Adjacent to Creekside at Elfindale, Stirek Construction Services Inc. broke ground two months ago on the 63,340-square-foot project, said Creekside Executive Director Kevin Rusenstrom. The architect is in-house at Elkhorn, Nebraska-based Vetter Health Services, the owner of the Elfindale community northeast of the Kansas Expressway and Sunshine Street intersection.
Rusenstrom said currently, the retirement community has skilled nursing at The Manor at Elfindale and independent living at Creekside at Elfindale. For assisted living, officials have had to refer people to other centers in town because they did not require 24-hour care provided by skilling nursing.
“That’s the missing link, until now,” Rusenstrom said of assisted living, noting the expansion would create a “continuum of care” and keep residents from having to relocate from the community. “It’s kind of like a one-stop shop.”
In the past two months, crews have performed site work, and Rusenstrom said they are expected to begin installing footings this week. The project sits on less than 5 acres — south of Creekside at Fort and Elindale streets — purchased from Venture Church, he said.
“A lot of community members that live here currently have been waiting for this project to take place probably over 18 years,” he said, noting the Elfindale community had been keeping an eye out for adjacent property.
Slated for completion in December 2019, Rusenstrom said a hermitage on the site where a priest once lived will be kept, and the development will be styled after it.
“Elfindale is a historical property. The building is going to follow suit,” he said.
The assisted living center is designed with 44 units and 55 beds in one- and two-bedroom apartments. About 20 people are on the waiting list, he said.
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