VERO BEACH, Fla.—Confluent Senior Living and Harbor Retirement Associates (HRA) have broken ground on a 106,698-square-foot assisted living and memory care community in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Representing the first project of its kind to break ground in this city within the past 20 years, HarborChase of Shaker Heights will address the unmet demand among local residents for this housing option. The three-story community will offer 108 licensed senior living units, comprised of 80 apartments for assisted living and 28 units for memory care residents.
The community represents the project partners’ second senior living property in Ohio and ninth joint venture across six states. Developed intentionally within the specifications of Confluent Senior Living’s Whole Health Standard, HarborChase of Shaker Heights will deliver quality, holistic designs that incorporate the latest protections for residents’ physical health, promote features essential to mental health and place a strong emphasis on safety, hospitality, and comfort. The community is anticipated to open in late 2022.
“The City of Shaker Heights needed a new senior living residential community to accommodate a growing and underserved senior demographic, which makes up more than 18 percent of the local population,” said Matt Derrick, senior development director at Confluent Senior Living. “As we emerge from the pandemic, this groundbreaking represents a new era in residential offerings for the surrounding communities and a significant milestone in our partnership with HRA, as we expand in the Ohio market and deploy our new Whole Health Standard across our projects.”
Confluent Senior Living, a subsidiary of Denver-based real estate investment and development firm Confluent Development, serves as the project’s owner. HRA, a regional senior living development and management company based in Vero Beach, Florida, will manage HarborChase of Shaker Heights. The community represents Confluent Senior Living’s 23rd senior living development community in the nation.
Situated on nearly three acres at 17000 Van Aken Boulevard, HarborChase of Shaker Heights will be developed within one of Cleveland’s most affluent suburbs, located just eight miles from downtown. The project is also in close proximity to the RTA light rail, which connects residents of Shaker Heights to downtown Cleveland, creating a convenient transportation option for families and friends of loved ones who will reside at HarborChase of Shaker Heights. Just one mile east of the project site is a newly redeveloped mixed-use, transit-oriented development, the Van Aken District, which provides multifamily residential offerings, retail, restaurants, as well as office space.
“Shaker Heights has always prided itself on offering a wide range of housing options for residents at every age and stage of life. HarborChase of Shaker Heights fills a need for a high-quality, full service and amenity rich senior living option in our community,” said David E. Weiss, mayor of Shaker Heights. “This is a very significant new investment in Shaker Heights and will also create new jobs in our city. We are pleased that the Confluent team recognized the significant potential of this location and will leverage the easy access to public transportation and vibrant commercial districts for the benefit of senior residents, their families, and the employees of HarborChase.”
HarborChase communities focus on serving seniors through providing choice and award-winning hospitality. Accredited chefs prepare seasonal, farm-to-table Chef’s Fare selections daily, “Best Days” are created by passionate life-enrichment teams, and highly trained professional care partners deliver resident-focused care. To enrich resident comfort and quality of life, the community will provide access to licensed nurses and a 24-hour care staff, concierge service, housekeeping service, scheduled daily transportation, multiple restaurants, outdoor firepits and dining options, a bar/lounge with sunroom, club room, classrooms and activity room, a fitness and wellness center, a barber and beauty salon, and many other unique amenities. The community will also offer 84 surface parking spots on-site and 28 units will feature balconies.
“As one of our first communities to break ground on the heels of the pandemic, we are grateful for our continued collaboration with Confluent Development, which enabled us to bring HarborChase of Shaker Heights to life and deliver a best-in-class project for this region,” said Charlie Jennings, chief development officer of HRA. “We’ve always looked to Confluent for innovation in senior living development, but amid the pandemic, their forward-looking ideas have integrated seamlessly with HRA’s vision. This community will not only enhance the health and safety for all, but it will create an environment that supports residents at this stage in their lives.”
The project’s design and architecture will be led entirely by Ohio-based project partners to ensure the community is tailored to the needs of its local residents. RDL Architects, based out of Shaker Heights, is the architect on the project, with Toledo-based The Douglas Company serving as general contractor. Mannik Smith Group (MSG), also based in Shaker Heights, is the project’s civil engineer.
About Harbor Retirement Associates
Harbor Retirement Associates (HRA) is a regional senior living development and management company, focused primarily on assisted living and memory care communities, but also engaged in the development and operations of independent living and skilled nursing communities. HRA operates 35 communities in 9 states and is partnering on the construction of 8 more communities in 5 additional states. HRA manages over $150 million in revenue and approximately $1 billion in assets while employing 2,500 associates. For more information, visit HRAseniorliving.com.
About Confluent Senior Living
Confluent Senior Living is a national developer and investor of senior projects. Confluent Senior Living partners with a variety of industry-renowned senior living operators across the United States. An expert in developing, buying, and selling senior living communities, Confluent Senior Living has a national senior housing portfolio of award-winning communities. Confluent Senior Living is a subsidiary of Confluent Development, a Denver-based, full-service real estate investment and development firm that owns and develops ground-up commercial real estate throughout the United States. For more information, visit ConfluentSeniorLiving.com.
