Winter Park board approves assisted living facility

An assisted living facility project planned in Winter Park might be the latest addition to the six-way intersection of Orange Avenue, Denning Drive and Minnesota Avenue.

The city’s Economic Development Advisory Board gave their stamp of approval on the project proposed by ROC Seniors on Tuesday, claiming it would contribute toward making the area more economically viable.

“I think it has so many positive benefits for the city,” Board member John Gill said. “Number one, putting that piece of property on the tax rolls is good, but number two, adding that kind of walkable component to that sector of the city to drive the restaurants and some of the retail there helps with the urban walkability that we’re striving for.”

The project would be placed on the vacant Progress Point site at the corner of Orange and Denning, which has sat unused since the city acquired the property in 2011 and is now up for sale. The 86,985-square-foot facility would include 82 assisted living apartments and 32 memory care units, along with a new 6,000-square-foot restaurant space.

Planning and Community Development Director Dori Stone said that an assisted living facility might not appear as an economic driver at first glance, but added that many of the residents should still take advantage of amenities on Orange Avenue, along with visiting family members.

“The residents are primarily still very active seniors, they want to be out and about,” Stone said. “That certainly is a component that Orange Avenue needs. We designed Orange Avenue for that.”

A new assisted living facility would help meet the needs of one of Winter Park’s largest growing demographics. Winter Park Hospital CEO Ken Bradley told the Observer last month that Winter Park has roughly 25,000 seniors living within just a five mile radius of the hospital, and that the number is likely to grow over the next 15 years.

The project would also mean new jobs, with 135 full-time employees expected to be hired between the assisted living facility and the restaurant.

“I like the entire package on all levels,” said Patrick Chapin, a member of the Economic Development Advisory Board and president of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.

The future of the Progress Point site and the assisted living facility project will be discussed at a future City Commission meeting date in September, Stone said.