The Villas of Jackson has begun work on independent living duplexes near its assisted living facility. The Villas held a ground-breaking ceremony on Oct. 2 for the beginning of construction.
Administrator Carl Knott said the duplexes have been in the works for the past six months, with the first scheduled to be completed in December. Knott said they plan on eventually building 10 to 15, with the first five being completed fairly quickly.
The units were designed to allow residents to enjoy their retirement with as much privacy as they want, but still be a part of a larger senior living campus.
Each unit includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open living room, dining room and kitchen area. The unit also has an attached two-car garage and a four season room. Each unit is 1,185 square feet, with an additional 80 square feet when counting the four season room.
The units also come with a washer, dryer, standard size appliances, basic cable, Internet and an emergency call system.
“This is for folks who are tired of doing the maintenance on everything, tired of doing all the cleaning and just want an easier way of life,” Knott said.
Knott said the cost is comparable to other duplexes in the area, but they offer many more amenities. The duplex comes with paid utilities, paid property tax, two meals per day at the Villas’ dining hall, medical appointment transport, wellness checks, bimonthly housekeeping, weekly trash pickup and free lawn maintenance.
Independent living residents will also have access to the Villas of Jackson activities and services, including its library, computers, beauty salon/barber shop and dining facility.
The project came out of meeting with potential residents who said what they were looking for, according to Knott. There is no contract or buy-in necessary with the duplex units, with the amenities all included with the initial payment.
Knott said they are moving quickly on the project because they “see the need for this in the community.” He added that there is already interest in the units, with people asking to be put on a waiting list.
At the ground-breaking, Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce Director Brian Gerau said this will be a great tool to help bring retirees to the area. “A lot of baby boomers are retiring and we want them to move here and take advantage of all the amenities that Jackson has to offer.”
