Retirement News : Seniors : Palm Bay OKs 700 units for seniors

Palm Bay OKs 700 units for seniors

Date Added: 12-04-2005

PALM BAY - The city of Palm Bay will get more than 700 new housing units for senior citizens in coming months.

The Palm Bay City Council moved ahead plans last week for two developments, both gated communities that will offer both independent living and assisted living for seniors.

Serenity Palms at Babcock Street and South Sunlake Road would have seven four-story apartment buildings with 464 units and 44 cottages for sale. The development by the Melbourne Housing Authority will include meal service and on-site medical care and therapies.

Patrick Kirkland, president of Tropical Village Inc., received another six-month extension to build Pelican Bay Club, a project with 11 three-story buildings with 144 units and a congregate-living building with 60 beds. He told councilmen he has construction financing and expects to begin building soon.

William Deatrick, Melbourne Housing Authority director, said 485 people are on a waiting list for the units, 213 of them from Palm Bay. "There are a lot of people in dire need. We can't build fast enough," said Meg Knight, regional director of National Church Residencies of Palm Bay, the organization that will run Serenity Palms.

Deatrick said the residents of Ramshur Towers in Melbourne, which has been sold, will move to the new facility.

Deatrick said construction is expected to take up to seven years.

A second hearing will be held on the proposal next month and then Deatrick said site clearing will begin.

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http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050411/NEWS01/504110330/1006