Plans for Senior Living Move Forward

Blue Ridge Seniors may soon have new housing accommodations. Developer Jerry Braden plans to build a new senior living facility near the Post Office in Blue Ridge. On February 21st, the Blue Ridge Planning Committee held a public hearing in response to Braden’s request to rezone the 8.47 acre tract from C2 General Commercial to R3 High Density Residential. Based on Braden’s presentation to the committee and the public last month, the committee recommended that the city council approve the request.

Present at the city council meeting this week, Braden said he feels Blue Ridge has a development need for senior housing.

“We feel this would be a good site for the purpose,”

he told council, explaining that occupants could walk to the post office and the restaurants in the nearby complex.

Seeking a timeframe for the project, Council Member Rhonda Thomas asked Braden if he planned to begin construction immediately or a year after he closed on the land. He said his contract carries through to December first, with an extension until February of next year and that he probably will not buy the property until March of next year.

“It goes pretty fast after that,”

he said, explaining in three months everything is in place. The project is expected to be in full production by summer of next year, he said.

Addressing funding for the project, Braden emphasized that he would not buy the property if they did not get the appropriate funding.

“We are submitting a pre-application to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs,”

he explained, adding,

“It takes some period of time, so we really won’t know until next October that we’re going to get funded, but we certainly have to have the zoning.”

Braden feels the proposed facility will be good for the community. Also, he said he it will temporarily help with the job situation, but will mainly provide a much needed, quality housing for area seniors.