Orchard Ridge to add 31 units

Orchard Ridge Senior Living in Coeur d'Alene will be adding more than 25 units to its campus.

The nonprofit is having a groundbreaking for its independent living apartments at 4 p.m. Tuesday at 624 W. Harrison Ave. 

“The Arbor will be an extension of the work we already do for the 230-plus seniors currently living at Orchard Ridge," said Executive Director Ann Johnson. "The new project will create more jobs, more housing for seniors and more options for our community as the demand for housing continues.”

Orchard Ridge has served seniors for over 100 years. The current campus consists of 154 one-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors and 69 assisted living and memory care units, with over 20 residents receiving charitable care.

"Orchard Ridge is governed by a board of directors and employs 90 staff on the campus and every year their mission impacts over 1,000 seniors and their families with the services provided," a press release said.

But more units are needed.

Since the current independent living contains only one-bedroom unit types, it does not accommodate retired couples well. In addition, the income restrictions of low-income housing do not reach those who fall into the moderate-income range. 

"The tragedy of only offering low-income independent housing is that there are often those who have their spouse in assisted living but are forced to live miles away because they do not qualify as low income and thus cannot live on campus," the release said.

A 31-unit building project, The Arbor, could be the answer.

It will allow older adults to live among their peers in a gated community with the opportunity to transition to assisted living if it becomes necessary. For those living on the campus, priority is given when it becomes time for moving to assisted living.

The project is expected to relieve some of the high demand for senior apartments that the community is experiencing; offer a choice for those who do not qualify for HUD subsidized apartments and encourage couples to live together or near each other on Orchard Ridge’s campus.