adminOctober 29, 2015 (Mechanicsburg, PA) More than 200 dignitaries and community leaders joined Messiah Lifeways executives for the Project Envision ceremonial groundbreaking today. President & CEO Curt Stutzman noted that this event is a milestone in the organization’s 119-year history. “Today we symbolically and literally dig in and embark on a comprehensive $77 million expansion that will bring nearly 160 new residents and a vast array of amenities to our Messiah Village campus. Years of strategic planning have brought us here and we are grateful for all the advisors, partners, and friends who have made it possible.” Stutzman and others, including George Book, Jr., President & CEO of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the fact that this project will result in up to 30 new permanent jobs and will increase tax revenues to Upper Allen Township and Mechanicsburg Area School District. Construction is slated to begin before the end of this calendar year and will last for at least 18 months.
In addition to a large number of current Messiah Village residents who joined in the celebration, a group of Village Square depositors were specially acknowledged during the ceremony. Village Square will include 84 apartment homes with underbuilding parking. More than 40 couples and/or individuals have made financial deposits to reserve their new home at Village Square, expected to open in summer 2017.
Messiah Lifeways Board Chair Glenn Heisey underscored the importance of Project Envision’s first phase as a comprehensive three-part expansion. “Beyond new residential living accommodations at Village Square, we are looking ahead at how to best serve future generations. We live in one of the nation’s ‘grayest’ states so our new private nursing rooms and spacious personal care apartments will be key to meeting current and future demand.”
Some of the key professional project team members were also recognized during the program.
Development Consultant — Greenbrier Development, Dallas, TX
Architect– Stewart & Conners Architects, Charlotte, NC
Landscape Architect — RGS Associates, Lancaster, PA
Builder — Whiting-Turner, Baltimore, MD
Interior Design — Interior Design Associates, Inc., Nashville, TN
Advertising Agency — LevLane, Philadelphia, PA
Financing Consultant — Ziegler, Chicago, IL
Financing Bank — BB&T, Winston-Salem, NC
Legal Counsel — Latsha, Davis & McKenna, Mechanicsburg PA
Kristen Heisey, Vice President of Strategic Development & Marketing, applauded this group’s talent and effort. She also shared high praise for Upper Allen Township officials who have “gone above and beyond” in helping this project plan become a reality. “It’s a great day – the years of meetings, planning, and collaborating have brought us to groundbreaking and we are anxious to begin.”
Project Envision is a 20-year plan for a mission-driven Messiah Village campus. Phase one includes the building of Village Square with apartment homes, dining, wellness, and enrichment venues. Phase one also includes adding 26 Enhanced Living apartments and 2 new nursing neighborhoods with 32 private rooms. Plans also include renovating and privatizing an existing 32 nursing rooms so that when this project is complete, Messiah Lifeways at Messiah Village will have 64 of its 184 skilled nursing beds designated as private accommodations.
