After an 18-month construction process Rosedale St. Albert, a 148-bed seniors’ facility, is now opening its doors.
The building, which includes both assisted living and private suites, is already home to about 60 residents as the last touches are being completed throughout the facility.
“We have the landscaping to do, but we are probably in the last 10 per cent within the building,” said Lorenzo Clonfero one of the owners of Rosedale Developments, the company behind the centre.
In 2008, city council changed the land-use zoning to pave the way for construction at the site at Hebert Road and Arlington Drive.
Clonfero said it is nice to see the building — Rosedale’s seventh completed structure — finally open its doors. The facility features many large windows throughout the common areas as well as a sun deck on one side.
By and large the facility is very similar to other projects the company has done, he added, but has the odd addition including the deck, which is unique to this facility.
The building features several large open common areas and dining areas, as well as areas for a hair and nail salon and many different activity rooms.
Clonfero said the facility is designed to allow seniors who might not be mobile to stay within the facility.
“People that are not that mobile can stay within the building and everything is catered to.”
The building has 69 assisted living units designated by the province and rented out for $1,650 per month. The rest of the units are rented at market rates and are a mixture of one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Even though the facility has medical resources, their aim was to build something that would feel like a home, not an institution, Clonfero said.
“There is a very residential feel to it and that is what our philosophy is from day one,” he said. “It is nice that you can bring a lot of your belonging and feel at home.”
With medical resources people can remain at the facility, he said.
“You can actually age in place in our facility, because we do have all the professional services.”
Clonfero said he doesn’t anticipate having any troubling renting the suites and said there has already been interest with people coming in to look at the suites and calling for information.
The company has also received a lot of interest at its other facilities, Clonfero said.
“A lot of the people who are inquiring are actually hearing about it from word of mouth through our other facilities.”
A formal grand opening of the facility is being planned for later this fall.
