Lopez eyes creating senior housing

Imagine living on Lopez for 60 or more years; it’s where you were born, then married and raised your children. Imagine having to leave in your later years because there is no senior housing or assisted living facilities available on the island.

For many long-time Lopezians, this was a reality. For others, it is a quickly approaching scenario.

Barbara Pickering’s parents experienced this. Pickering’s mother was born on Lopez and lived on the island with her husband of 65 years. But the couple now resides off-island because senior housing is not available on Lopez. “They would have loved to be here. They would have preferred to be here,” said Pickering, adding that the move was hard on her mother.

Pickering’s situation is not unique; it is one experienced by many families on Lopez.

Gale McCallum is eager for senior housing to become available on Lopez. She will be 80 next year. She said the days when she will need to downsize her home and be unable to drive are nearing. “I would like to have a facility in the works and going because there are so many of us nearing an age where we would have a need for it,” said McCallum, who has a strong desire to keep Lopez her home. “I do not want to leave the island,” she said.

It was these kind of stories that kick-started a group of Lopezians to look into building senior housing on Lopez, said Gary Tabasinske, chairman of the board of the Lopez Community Land Trust (LCLT). There is now a senior housing committee of more than 30 people, divided into four sub-committees who are actively looking to build senior housing (for both independent living and assisted living). There is no connection between the senior housing project and LCLT at this time, Tabasinske said.

The four senior housing sub-committees are: site and infrastructure, operations and financing, housing, and adult family home. The chair of each committee also serves on a senior housing steering board.

The groups formed in June 2003, but informal talks about senior housing have been going on for over two years. Tabasinske is chairman of the site and infrastructure committee.

“Our mission is to keep people on Lopez, who want to stay here, as long as we can,” added Rip VanCamp, another member of the committee.

“That’s really the inspiration of this whole project,” said Tabasinske.

At this time, the committee is looking to build 10 to 12 cottages, some of which would allow completely independent living while others would meet the need of those requiring semi-independent living. Along with the cottages, the committee hopes to build a six-unit adult family home that provides 24-hour continuous care. Plans do not stop there; the committee also intends to build two affordable living units for people employed as senior caregivers.

According to VanCamp, the senior housing project is meant to cover all segments of the population. In keeping with that mission, a portion of the senior housing homes will be affordable. “We want to have economic diversity,” said Tabasinske.

Seven acres near the village are currently available and are being seriously considered for the project. There is another adjoining five acres also available for purchase. “It’s a really good location for the project,” said Tabasinske.

According to VanCamp, seniors want housing within walking distance of the village.

As far as coming up with the money to purchase the property, the committee will be relying heavily on private donations and grants, said Tabasinske.

The senior housing committee is hoping to start construction of the housing project, called Loho (for Lopez Housing Options), in 2005. However, the project is dependent on the village adopting an Urban Growth Area (UGA) designation. If there is no UGA designation, the senior housing project cannot build to the density needed, Tabasinske said.

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