By Chris Bavender
It could the first of its kind in Indiana – a retirement community that will look and feel like a home.
But before construction can start on the Green House Cottages of Carmel, a request to rezone the property on East 126th Street just east of the United Methodist Church on Range Line Road to a planned unit development must be approved.
The development would feature six separate cottage style homes – each housing no more than 12 residents – scattered throughout the four-and-a-half acres where two homes now sit.
“They will be approximately eight thousand square feet and from the exterior will look like a big, single-family home,” said Andrew Greenwood of Old Town Development.
Green Houses are part of what’s called “patient-centered” practices. The goal is to provide a skilled nursing facility, but in a home-like atmosphere. Each resident would have their own bedroom and bath, with a central kitchen for all to gather for meals.
“There are a few hundred places around the country, but this is the first of its kind in Indiana so it’s a big deal from that angle as well,” Greenwood said. “This is unique and innovative, and we are excited to bring it to Carmel. This is vastly different than the traditional nursing facility.”
Two homes on the property, already owned by related entities of Green House Cottages of Carmel, will be torn down to make way for the cottages. And Greenwood said every effort will be made to preserve as many trees as possible on the property.
“The way the site is laid out we will do our best on the north border boundary to keep as many of the trees as possible as well as some other really beautiful ones on the eastern side of the property,” Greenwood said. “We are trying to maintain as much of the green space as we can but at same time we will be building. But there are definitely areas we hope to not disturb the trees because they are attractive and long standing and help add value for everybody.”
If the rezoning is approved, construction could start by spring of 2015, with the first residents potentially moving in by summer of fall 2015.
