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    • Phoenix Diocese partners with developer for senior housing
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    Phoenix Diocese partners with developer for senior housing

    Harry Posted on

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    As some churches struggle with declining congregations, a handful of Catholic congregations around the Valley are looking for a creative solution: adding senior housing to their campuses.

    High-end residential developer Acanthus Development Co. has completed five land leases with Valley Catholic congregations and is in talks with 10 to 15 more, said Christopher Bayley, general counsel and COO of Acanthus Development.

    The projects will consist of approximately 150 units and include traditional senior housing options such as independent living, assisted living and memory care. The first development was at St. Louis in Ahwatukee. Benedict Catholic Church and construction will begin in April.

    Bayley said discussions between the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix and Acanthus have been going on for several years, trying to find a way to incorporate senior living into the church grounds.

    “Almost everyone at Acanthus went through senior living with our parents,” Bayley said. “It would be really nice for a parishioner to have access to assisted living, maybe even hospice and end-of-life care, close to their church.”

    Acanthus rents land from each neighborhood to build housing. Residents will pay rent for their units, and Acanthus will also donate 10% of its annual operating revenue back to the churches, Bayley said. Bayley said the units will be close to but slightly below market rent.

    “It was designed to be affordable for the population we serve,” he said. He said the facilities would be like “cruise ships,” with Class A amenities, meals and maintenance services.

    Many of the churches also have elementary schools on site, which can give families the chance to have more than one generation living on campus at the same time.

    “Can you imagine the synergy?” Bayley said. “There may be at least three generations of people in school, church and assisted living, and perhaps grandchildren of residents may also attend school there during the school year. “This synergy will truly revitalize neighborhoods.”

    Other churches that lease land to Acanthus are St. Paul in Surprise. Clare of Assisi, St. Mary’s Church in Glendale. Raphael Catholic Church and St. Raphael in Cave Creek. Gabriel Catholic Church.

    The projects will operate independently of the churches and will be open to residents of all faiths, but will have a strong connection to the churches.

    St. “Our parish is thrilled to be one of the first five parishes in the Diocese of Phoenix to partner with Acanthus Senior Living,” Father Thaddeus McGuire of Clare Parish said in a statement. “Not only is there tremendous enthusiasm among our senior parishioners about the possibility of living in the planned senior living center, but there is also tremendous enthusiasm among those who are excited about the opportunity to work in an environment where they will still be free to live and share the Catholic faith while serving and traveling with residents.

    Bayley said construction at each site will take 12 to 14 months, with residents likely moving in after 14 to 16 months.

    churches We have struggled to maintain participation around the Valley and across the country Due to the decrease in contributions from their congregations after the epidemic, many people chose to sell their buildings. The senior living component of the sites will provide support to the churches, Bayley said.

    “People in the parishes and the diocese see this as a very important step in bringing people back to the church,” he said.

    Reach the reporter’s address [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @CorinaVanek.

    Harry
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