News
Frankfort Senior Community Gets Makeover
Published in Inside Indiana Business
July 21, 2016
FRANKFORT – A large retirement community in Frankfort has kicked off a $575,000 round of improvements. The project includes renovations to three areas of the 83-acre property and the demolition of two buildings to make way for green space.
Wesley Manor is owned by Indianapolis-based nonprofit BHI Senior Living Inc., which says the work will involve 10 village homes, 10 independent and assisted-living apartments and the health center’s rehabilitation wing. Twelve units the organization has deemed “no longer marketable” have been taken down.
Executive Director Kevin Ward says “after the project is completed, Wesley Manor will have a lot more curb appeal.” He adds “our partnership with BHI has made us financially stronger, which in turn, has allowed us to focus on updating the campus and ensure our current and future residents have a nice place to live.”
Wesley Manor became a BHI affiliate in January. The company also has communities in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Columbus.
Renovation Project Involves Village Homes, Apartments and Rehab Center
Published in Frankfort Times
August 9, 2016
Article Written By Sharon Bardonner
Traveling along State Road 75 on the north side of Frankfort, drivers can now see a row of residential homes rather than two multi-unit buildings. Razing the two outdated six-unit structures is part of Wesley Manor’s
$575,000 renovation, intended to update several parts of the Frankfort continuum of care campus, according to Executive Director Kevin Ward.
Based on their square footage and floor plans, the sixplexes were determined to be unmarketable, said Ward, so rather than retrofit them, the decision was made to demolish the structures in lieu of green space.
Ward hopes that residents begin to see the area as a park-like setting for public gatherings, picnics and other outdoor events. The area is about the size of a football field with several full-growth trees offering lots of shade.
Several residents already have provided ideas for the open space, many culled from current TV shows. One proposed a settlement of “tiny homes,” while another suggested building fancy treehouses.
The renovation also includes refurbishing several independent living homes in Wesley Village to bring the interiors and floorplans up to today’s styles, Ward explained. The spending, which is about $30,000 per home, is now possible given the retirement community’s better financial position.
“Wesley Manor went through several years of budgetary concerns,” Ward said, “so there were cuts and postponed renovations. But now with BHI Senior Living’s financial backing, we’re able to do some things, such as bring several of our Village Homes up to date, making improvements of a cosmetic and structural nature.”
“Our goal is to create homes where people can age in place most independently as possible,” he said.
Throughout the Village are a mix of home styles to create a feeling of a neighborhoods in Frankfort. “It doesn’t look like a health campus, and we embrace that,” said Ward. “They’re not cookie-cutter; there’s a sense of variety. Here, you’re not mowing and you’re not shoveling snow, but you’re still living ‘at home.’”
The Village community consists of 75 homes, with 16 currently available.
Updates are also being done in the main building, the Manor House, with 10 independent and assisted-living apartments getting upgrades, such as six-panel doors and good baseboards.
Also, in the fall, the rehabilitation wing will receive new carpet, paint and window coverings and will gain on-unit therapy areas to improvement treatment options.
Wesley Manor’s association with BHI has not only freed dollars for upgrades, it has also created operational efficiencies and cost savings.
As a result, the Manor has been able to restructure its prices, said Ward.