The mood was festive on Tuesday as elected officials gathered for the long-awaited groundbreaking celebration of the Peconic Landing expansion.
The expansion will consist of 46 residential apartments, a new short-term rehabilitation center, and a 16-suite memory support neighborhood.
The event came just hours after the Greenport Village board voted unanimously to authorize an agremeent betwen the Greenport Fire Department and Peconic Landing.
Guests at Tuesday’s event included New York State Senator Ken LaValle, Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, Suffolk County Comptroller Joe Sawicki, Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell, and Greenport Mayor David Nyce, as well as Southold town board members.
Construction on the $44 miillion expansion is set to begin in October.
The expansion will not only create 40 to 45 new jobs but will provide state of the art health care specialization, programs and ameniies, Robert Syron, president and CEO of Peconic Landing, said.
The planned expansion of the retirement community, located at 1500 Brecknock Road, north of New York State Route 25 in Greenport calls for the proposed construction of two new buildings that would add to the existing continuing care retirement community.
Currently, the facility has 118 cottages, 132 apartments, 24 assisted living and 32 skilled nursing beds.
The proposed additions include an 87,426 sq. ft. apartment building with 46 apartments and a parking garage, and a 35,543 sq. ft. nursing home with 33 beds, including a reconfiguration of the parking lot on 144 acres in the hamlet density zoning district.
The expansion will feature 16 new private skilled nursing accommodations in a “neighborhood model,” which includes a common area with country kitchen, dining area, great room and activity area; a 16-suite memory support assisted living wing for those with cognitive impairment will be set in a similar neighborhood style, a release on the expansion said.
In addition, 46 residential apartments ranging in size from 800 to 1,200 square feet will be added, along with expanded fitness facilities, new administrative support spaces and enhancements to the community’s educational amenities, including a technologically enhanced “smart” classroom, the release added.
The independent living addition will be attached to the existing community center and have easy access to all fitness, social and cultural amenities; the pool area will be renovated to provide greater access. Exercise facilities will be increased, and a separate fitness room will be created for group exercise, the release said.
A new front entrance to the healthcare center will be created along with a new lobby/reception area, training room and administrative space. Post-acute rehabilitation services will include upgraded physical and occupational therapies.
All phases of the expansion are expected to start simultaneously, with construction of the memory care and skilled nursing additions and are anticipated to take 12 months, and the residential living addition – which includes underground resident parking – approximately 14 to 16 months.
Syron remembered Peconic Landing’s founder, William Thompson. “He would be very proud of how this has evolved,” he said.
Peconic Landing sponsor board chairman John May agreed, reflecting on the day 14 years ago when ground was broken in June, 2000, for the facility. Today, he said, Peconic Landing is an asset to both the Village of Greenport and Southold Town. May said Tuesday was “a milestone” for Peconic Landing, and said, “It hasn’t been easy. There have been challenges. But today, we focus on the future.”
The challenge, May said, is to “build well, to manage well, and to serve well. I think we are up ot the challnege. Let’s break ground today on the next chapter.”
LaValle remembered meeting Thompson while campaigning, and said watching Peconic Landing evolve has been “remarkable”, with a future that’s not “yet been defined”. To the seniors who attended the event, he said, “Continue to stay in good health and enjoy your life.”
Palumbo said he was proud Peconic Landing was in his hometown.
Kruspki said he’d first met Thompson years ago as a trustee and remembered his vision and leadership. “They’re looking forward,” he said, of Peconic Landing. “It was easy to support them 14 years ago and now, they’re keeping up the good work.”
Sawikci said his wife had worked at Peconic Landing, bringing a round of applause from residents; he congratulated Peconic Landing for being “a wonderful place in Suffolk County”.
“Fifteen years ago , whien I first heard about Peconic Landing as an assessor, I said, ‘This is great for the community. What can I do to help?'” said Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell. “Today, when I heard about the expansion, I said, ‘This is great for the community .What can I do to help?’ Thank you for investing in the community.”
Nyce added that Peconic Landing added to the vibrancy of Greenport.
“Peconic Landing will always be on a journey of improvement,” Syron said. “This is our culture. We are comitted to our residents.” Raising his glass in a toast, he said, “This is, indeed, a milestone.”
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