Developer to expand plans for senior housing in Jackson

Cape Girardeau developer Brandon Williams has set his sights on Jackson and soon will be expanding his plans for senior housing development.

Williams, through The Villas of West Park LLC, will go before the Jackson Board of Aldermen to rezone several pieces of land behind Jackson Manor for development into duplexes for seniors.

"Senior housing should probably see a boom here in the next 20 years with all the baby boomers. There's going to be a need in the future," he said. "A big need."

A look at the construction progress on The Villas of Jackson, an assisted living facility, on Thursday in Jackson.GLENN LANDBERG ~ glandberg@semissourian.com

The proposed duplexes will be part of a larger senior-living offering, adjacent to the $6.5 million assisted-living facility Williams' company started last year.

"This is our first ... assisted-living facility that we've built," Williams said.

The facility, which Williams said is scheduled to be open this fall, was one of the top five largest construction projects of last year.

"And that doesn't include if we're able to build the duplexes," Williams said. "That would add about another million and a half dollars."

Roughly five acres along the eastern border of the property also will be redesignated if the board cooperates so it can be developed.

A look at the construction progress on The Villas of Jackson, an assisted living facility, on Thursday in Jackson.GLENN LANDBERG ~ glandberg@semissourian.com

But instead of turning it into more senior housing options, Williams said he plans to make it back into R-2 residential and build houses there to be part of an adjacent subdivision.

"We'll go back in and build houses there at some point," he said.

Williams said the development will increase older residents' housing options.

"Jackson doesn't have any new facilities," he said. "This is going to be state of the art.

"[The existing options for senior housing in Jackson] are older facilities. These will provide a great atmosphere for people who are moving into that next stage of their lives."

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627