The Congress Companies breaks ground on $10.6 million expansion

Officials from The Congress Companies, Mackenzie Architects, and the owners, residents and staff of Cedar Hill Continuing Care Community took part in a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for the $10.6 million, 41,800 s/f addition to The Village at Cedar Hill. Designed by Mackenzie Architects of Burlington, Vt., this project will more than triple the existing assisted living space at the award-winning senior care community. Renovations and construction of the addition are expected to take 11 months without any disruption to current residents. Congress Building Corp., a full service construction firm headquartered in Peabody, Mass. will provide construction management services for the project, which will be owned and operated by the Cedar Hill Continuing Care Community. The existing Village at Cedar Hill houses 21 one and two-bedroom apartments and common areas in 17,854 s/f. The expansion will add two levels and increase the square footage to 59,720 s/f. The addition will include a 20-patient memory care unit and another 20 independent and assisted living apartments. The lower level will be dedicated to care for those with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia with 12 private apartments and eight semi-private apartments. There will be a large common area with a country kitchen, dining room, living room, multipurpose activity room, salon, greenhouse, art center and a secure outdoor garden area. Common living areas on the second floor will feature a living room, dining room, pub, activity room, fitness center, salon, library and computer center. The $10 million addition was funded in part through a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development mortgage. The addition is slated to open in January 2015.