New Senior Villas Will Help Fulfill Demand in St. Charles County

Rosemann & Associates, P.C. recently began construction on an independent senior living development in Wentzville, Mo. called Villas at Peruque Hills. The $3.8 million project is part of a larger development including single family homes called Peruque Hills Estates.

Developed by GHL Development, an affiliate of Gundaker Commercial Group who serves as the General Contractor, the Villas will be mixed affordable and market rate senior housing with funding provided by the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) and Bank of America. Construction is scheduled for a winter 2009 completion.

With 23 townhomes and 11 garden units, the Villas will provide needed affordable senior housing in St. Charles County which is currently named a disaster county by MHDC due to severe flooding in 2008.

"The Wentzville area is vastly expanding and there is a great demand for quality affordable housing in the region," says Andrew Koenig, AIA. "Our team is confident this project will help fulfill the need but there is still more work to be done."

Rosemann's design concept coincides with the Universal Design methodology. According to the Universal Design Alliance's website, UD is a "user-friendly approach to design in the living environment where people of any culture, age, size, weight, race, gender and ability can experience an environment that promotes their health, safety and welfare today and in the future."

For the Villas, unit entries, bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and first floor bedrooms are fully accessible by wheelchair. All units include an oversized, attached garage allowing for someone with a physical disability to more easily access a vehicle. According to Koenig, the garages are a unique amenity not often found in affordable housing.

"Being an independent senior development, ease-of-use was extremely important," says Koenig. "With minor changes such as changing out some cabinetry and countertops and adding some grab bars we can easily convert units to be fully accessible. The townhouse unit staircases were also designed wider to accommodate a lift if necessary."

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