Touchmark has started building a senior-living project in Anchorage, Alaska. Named Touchmark at Hillside, it is slated to become Anchorage’s inaugural full-service retirement community. Spanning 14 acres, the development will contain 244 residences: 120 condo-style independent units, 34 villas, 58 assisted-living apartments and 32 memory-care homes, all organized in two gated neighborhoods on the property overall today.
A New Model for the North
Touchmark Development & Construction is leading the project, working with a local team that includes Bettisworth North, Watterson Construction, DOWL, BBFM Engineers, T3 Alaska and LRS Architects. Marcus Breuer, the company’s CEO, said in a statement that the project aims to offer residents a balance between maintaining their current lifestyle and having access to support services.
Developing a large-scale retirement community in Alaska presents unique logistical challenges. The region has a smaller population base than the contiguous United States, which means a project of this size must draw residents from a wide area. While the community is designed to serve the local market, the scale of the development suggests it will likely attract people from across the state who want a higher level of care than is currently available locally.
The project is the latest in a series of senior housing developments announced in recent months. In Illinois, Cedarhurst Senior Living finished an expansion at its Frankfort location, adding 32 independent living cottages. The cottages feature two-bedroom floor plans, walk-in closets, full kitchens and private garages.
Expanding Beyond Anchorage
Beyond Touchmark, other developers are also advancing new projects in the area. CopperWood Senior Living, a new complex in Peapack, New Jersey, will begin construction next month. Spread across four acres, the development will feature over 200 spaces for independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Ziegler, an investment bank, confirmed in August that it had secured financing for this upscale senior housing initiative.
Garden Communities is transforming a former country estate into a new 55+ neighborhood called Ballantine Greens in the South. The planned community will feature 250 one- and two-bedroom apartments, complete with a variety of shared amenities. Highlights include a one-acre village green with a pergola, walking trails, seating areas, a freshwater pond, a gazebo, open lawns, and electric vehicle charging stations.
Opening Doors Elsewhere
The two-story community spans 80,700 square feet on approximately 20 acres and includes 63 assisted living apartments and 26 memory care suites. The community is now accepting new residents. Residents also have access to a movie theater, landscaped courtyards, housekeeping and laundry services, and wellness, social and recreational activities.
Riverbend Landings, a new affordable senior housing complex in Sanford, Florida, has opened and reached 75% occupancy. The development combines indoor and outdoor areas for leisure and wellness activities. Amenities include a waterfront walking trail, indoor and outdoor fitness spaces, and a multipurpose gathering hall.
Upcoming Projects
Across the country, several other developments are moving forward. In the South, Kauhale Health plans to redevelop The Pines at Bluffton into Kauhale Bluffton. The $5 million project will repurpose the former assisted living and memory care property that first opened in 2000, adding capital improvements to serve 50 residents. The renovation effort is expected to last the next 12 months.
In Virginia, Goodwin Living is building Goodwin House Seminary Road, set to open in 2029. The project will consist of 257 apartments across two towers. While the community will mainly serve older adults through a continuing care model, it will also include units designated for affordable housing needs.
Additionally, development plans for an 80-unit community in New Berlin, Wisconsin move forward. A new senior living community in northern Virginia has also reached 100% occupancy in pre-sales nearly four years prior to opening.
