A new older adult living facility is taking steps toward opening its doors to house up to 99 residents, and is slated to open in early to mid-2023, according to the company.
The company that will run the new Riverview Senior Living facility — California-based Northstar Senior Living — hosted a meet and greet at the construction site Friday evening where people could walk through the area and see where construction is at.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire People stand at the entrance of the Riverview Senior Living facility which is currently in the midst of construction. According to Brian Pierce, the project superintendent, construction is going well and he said Dawson will continue to maintain possession of the building until its occupancy which is expected in mid-February.
“It’s a huge wonderful addition to Juneau,” said Joan Brown, a Juneau resident who toured the facility with her friend Bonnie Elder on Friday.
Daniel Powell, executive director of Riverview Senior Living, said the 87-unit structure on Clinton Drive in the Mendenhall Valley is on the way to occupancy and said he is excited to welcome people to check out the construction in the coming months.
“We want people to come in and see, you know, it’s not finished, but this is where it’s at,” he said.
The project — located on Clinton Drive in the Mendenhall Valley — originally broke ground just under a year ago and is being constructed by Dawson Construction LLC. According to Brian Pierce, the project superintendent, construction is going well and said Dawson will continue to maintain possession of the building until its occupancy which is expected in mid-February.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A rain patters down on construction equipment scattered in the parking lot of the Riverview Senior Living facility which is currently under construction and slated to open in early to mid-2023, according to the company.
Once “given the keys” Powell said staff will begin preparing the units for residents the company hopes to allow residents to move in around two months after taking over the building, but said that timeline is an estimate and could be subject to change. Powell said the facility will be open to residents 65 or older but may be open to younger residents depending on the case.
He said the facility is in the early stages of reaching out across Juneau or future staff of a variety of positions and depending on occupancy he expects to hire between 20-50 people.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire People look at a set of designs of the Riverview Senior Living facility at a meet and greet at the construction site Friday evening where people could walk through the area and see where construction is at.
Availability of senior care has been an issue for the City and Borough of Juneau and in 2020 the project received a $2 million grant from the city and tax abatements.
According to the Alaska Commission on Aging, Alaska continues to be the fastest-growing senior population per capita for the ninth consecutive year and found Alaska saw a 69% increase in the 65 and overpopulation between the years 2007 and 2018.
Powell said he is excited to be getting closer to sharing the final product with the community and its future residents, and encouraged people to visit the facility for a walk-through if interested.
The building is located in the Vintage Business Park near the Mendenhall River and in addition to housing, it will offer exercise, activity rooms and a restaurant.
According to its website, the starting monthly cost for a private studio apartment is $6,000 and a one-bedroom is $7,500. There is also a $4,000 community fee paid at signing, according to the company.
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807. Follow her on Twitter at @clariselarson.
