Intergenerational Campus to be created in independent living tower
LONDON: The opening last month of an upscale independent-living tower for residents 55-plus and the concurrent opening of a neighboring multifamily luxury apartment complex for all ages completed the first intergenerational residential community to open in the city, according to project partners.
The 155-unit, 22-story independent-living tower, The Watermark at Bellevue, which is located at 65 112th Ave. NE at the corner of Main Street, opened alongside Broadstone Savoie, a 190-unit apartment community. Located on the same block is Watermark’s preexisting 136-unit assisted-living and memory-care facility, at 121 112th Ave. NE.
Both Watermark properties are under The Watermark at Bellevue umbrella and operated by Tucson-based Watermark Retirement Communities. The Broadstone Savoie, at 35 112th Ave. NE, is operated by Charleston, S.C.-based Greystar.
Watermark lobby
All three are owned by Scottsdale-based Alliance Residential Co.
The colocated projects are meant to encourage intergenerational mingling and connection, including through a public restaurant, Evergreen Point Bistro, preparing to open on the ground floor of Watermark’s independent-living building, and a public coffee shop and cafe, North of Main, on the ground floor of the assisted-living building.
“We’re really trying to create not just the community for us, but also just kind of like a location that is … part of the fabric of the street — 112th,” Shawn Jervis, executive director of The Watermark at Bellevue campus, said in an interview this week. “That’s exciting for us, and it’s also an opportunity because a lot of senior-living places are, like, isolated, and we’re right in the heart” of Bellevue.
The Watermark at Bellevue is just across Main Street from East Link light rail’s East Main Station and within walking distance of downtown’s myriad dining, retail, and other attractions.
“This partnership with Watermark Retirement Communities represents a major step forward in senior living — creating communities that marry the care that seniors need as they age with a lifestyle that allows all generations to learn from one another,” Dale Boyles, managing director of senior housing at Alliance Residential Co., said in a news release last month. “We hope that The Watermark at Bellevue and Broadstone Savoie can be a model for forthcoming intergenerational communities.”
David Freshwater, chairman of Watermark Retirement Communities, said the expanded Watermark at Bellevue provides an opportunity for individuals of all ages to thrive.
“This campus allows us to give seniors the personalized care they need as they age, and for families to live side by side if they wish, learning and growing from each other,” he said in the release. “This campus redefines what senior living looks like.”
In an article this week on the evolving intergenerational senior living trend nationally, Senior Housing News noted the Bellevue project and the move to colocate senior living and all-ages housing.
Watermark is considering more such projects in urban areas to meet consumer preferences, especially among younger baby boomers, Watermark Chief Investment Officer Bryan Schachter said in the article. In the past, senior living as part of a mixed-use project was an “afterthought” in design, but that’s changing as people seek more active and urban places to live, he said.
Watermark at Bellevue’s Jervis said the new independent-living tower has residents ranging from 55-99, including people still working who seek the convenience and comfort of the location, and the ability to take trips without worry. The property includes a gym, personal trainers, resident-only restaurants, the public restaurant, 24-hour concierge, a technology concierge, activities programming, and more.
There’s a community life director who helps organize events, activities, trips, and guest speakers, largely driven by resident council meetings that guide what residents want, he said.
“So as we build this community, it’s kind of ever changing and ever developing,” Jervis said. “We’re not rolling the bingo balls out; that’s not what The Watermark lifestyle is about.”
Watermark properties are leased month to month, creating more flexibility for residents, he said. Rents range from about $3,500 to $10,000-plus per month, depending on unit size. Residents also get a $600 monthly credit that can be used toward food in the restaurants, laundry, extra housekeeping services, and the like, he said. Rents include all utilities and internet.
The Watermark is expanding its Watermark University program featuring classes led by residents, associates, and local experts. It’s also introducing EngageVR, Watermark’s virtual reality program that helps seniors explore the world without leaving the community, according to the recent news release.
“Occupancy is picking up pace,” Jervis said, adding more deposits and move-ins are occurring daily. “It is a good feeling so far.”
Next door at Broadstone Savoie, amenities include a community coworking space, rooftop lounge with barbecue grills, fitness center, yoga room, bike room, and a pet wash room, the release added.
