Plan Commission OKs Assisted Living Project

Last night the Woodstock Plan Commission unanimously approved the project of The Woodstock Senior Living Project Tryon Street for a new assisted-living senior residence project on the southwest corner of South Tryon and West Calhoun Streets. (For a larger view, click on the image; then click on the Back button to return here.)

Questions centered on height, appearance and access to the downtown area. Although the project's attorney had informed the Commission members that prospective residents would be in their late 70s and 80s, the development will discourage the ownership of private vehicles by residents and provide courtesy vans for their transportation.

Commission members seemed overly focused on residents' being able to go to the Square and whether they might have difficulty rolling wheelchairs up and curbs curbs at corners. In other words, would they be able to get themselves to the Square and back in their wheelchairs?

Without any disrespect meant to those who might use wheelchairs, I couldn't help but find such attention more than a little amusing.

Just picture an 80-year-old resident of an assisted-living facility venturing off from his new home and heading for the Square. OK, so it's all downhill. And a pretty good grade, too. He can coast all the way there; however, once in motion, would he be able to get his wheeled chair stopped when he reached an intersection?

And the bigger issue would be the return trip. Would an 80-year-old, perhaps somewhat frail, person who must use a wheelchair ever be able to get himself home from the Square? It's all uphill, and that same "pretty good" grade would present an ominous challenge.

The developer has thought this through and has planned the use of courtesy vans to provide transportation for the residents.

The project is not designed as a nursing home. Residents will not routinely need on-site medical care.

Other questions focused on fire department and paramedic access from the single entrance on Calhoun Street and on the height of the structure. While the overall height is designed as approximately ten feet lower than the existing buildings on the site, the west walls will present quite a different exterior than exists at this time.

Only one neighbor attended the Plan Commission meeting. That was really surprising to me. She did not particularly oppose the project, but she expressed genuine concerns for the residents of the two apartment buildings that will be demolished to make way for the new building. The developer has arranged for a local real estate agent to assist those residents to find new housing and will make a U-Haul-type vehicle available to them for moving.

Next step? Back to the Historic Preservation Commission, because the project falls within the boundaries of the Historic District, although well off the Square. Based on the last appearance before the HPC, I suspect the development might face stiff opposition at the HPC. Watch the City's website for an Agenda for the HPC. It could come up as quickly as February 2nd.