Providence One planning $30M assisted living facility near The Loop

UPDATED: June 15, 2016 02:20 PM — Providence One Investments is eying a 3.4-acre parcel on John Young Parkway just south of The Loop for a 120-unit assisted living and memory care facility (ALF).

The site, at the northwest corner of JYP and Centerview Boulevard, is currently owned by Tupperware Brands through its Deerfield Land Corp. holding company. Providence One, based in Lake Mary, has the property under contract and is scheduled to meet Wednesday with Osceola County planning staff to discuss plans for the $30 million project.

Michelle Pierce, principal with the company, told GrowthSpotter the project would be the company's fourth ALF. Providence One developed a similar community in Wildwood, has projects under construction in Stuart and has one in pre-development in Delray Beach. The company also has built independent living communities in Wildwood and Zephyrhills.

She was drawn to the industry for personal reasons.

"My background is multifamily," she said. "I've been in the multifamily and condo business for 26 years. Then recently I had to move my grandmother to an assisted living facility, and I was really disappointed in what was out there. Senior living doesn't have to not be fun. I said to myself, 'I can do this better.'"

Pierce drew on her past experience to design apartments that look less institutional. The communal dining room was replaced with a restaurant with intimate seating.

"There's no dining time," she said. "It's not a cruise ship. You come in and eat when you want to eat. We designed it like a restaurant so you walk up and you're seated by a hostess. I went to Seasons 52, that was my inspiration for the space."

Each ALF also has a bistro and full bar, a craft room, fitness center, movie theater and full service spa. Each community is also pet-friendly.

"It's important for us to build fun communities that are modern," she said. "We thoughtfully design these so they feel like home."

The preliminary design calls for a three-story building that is 103,000 square feet. The restaurant would serve as a separation between the assisted living and memory care residents.

"The reason I do it is because seniors are valuable, and I want to give them a home that has dignity but also safety and care they deserve," she said.

Forum Architecture is the project architect and won raves from Osceola County planners during a June 15 pre-application meeting. Several county staffers complimented the buidling design, color scheme and landscaping plan.

If approved, the project would count toward Tupperware's 1,500 remaining residential entitlements.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been updated to include an artist rendering and details from the June 15 pre-application meeting.

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