On Aug. 13, a number of area seniors braved the impending rain and the mud to traverse the area between the Fairmount parking lot and the building under construction to take a Drop-in Hard Hat Tour. The new four-story, 45-unit Wheat Ridge apartment building is located behind the main building, 333 Wheat Ridge Dr., Ephrata.
"This will be the lobby," said Mitchell Hanna, director of marketing, as he began to lead the first tour along the hallway of the ground-level floor. Hanna pointed out the area where a small library and mailboxes will be located. "Where this hallway bends, there will be a coat rack," added Hanna, noting that a hallway will connect the new apartments to the existing Wheat Ridge personal care wing.
When the organization broke ground for the building on July 23, Fairmount president/CEO Jerry Lile noted that the effort was a response to surveying the needs of potential residents. Each apartment in the building will correspond to one of 11 different floorplans. Hanna described the ones that visitors could see on the ground floor. "The first apartment on the right is one bedroom and one bath, and it's 597 square feet," said Hanna, who added that the model is called the Bareville. "All the floorplans are named for different towns in the area," he said, noting that alphabetically, the names run from smallest to largest.
The Akron is a studio apartment, whereas the Brownstown is 828 square feet and features a bedroom and den. The Cocalico floorplan, which is more prevalent than any other in the building, is also a one-bedroom with den that offers 865 square feet. The Conestoga is a one-bedroom with den that will give a tenant 875 square feet of space.
The Farmersville is a one-bedroom, one-bath that offers 880 square feet. The Hahnstown, which features an L-shaped layout, is the most unique floorplan in the building, according to Hanna. The Hinkletown is a 955-square-foot bedroom with a den model, and the Murrell boasts more than 1,000 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Like the Murrell, the Talmage offers more than 1,000 square feet, and the Voganville is 1,400 square feet.
The first floor of the building will also feature a small office where Hanna can meet with residents. Hanna noted that a nurse may also be in the office to check blood pressures at designated times. A wellness and workout room is planned for the building as well. A gathering room will be available for events, meetings, and activities. "There will be a full kitchen so it can be used for family meals and holidays," said Hanna.
To help residents and visitors find different locations within the building, each floor will have a set color scheme. The first floor will be blue, and the upper floors will each be painted either red, green, or yellow with corresponding decor.
A special trash room will feature a chute for upper floor residents and access to the outside on the first floor. Items to be recycled will need to be brought down to the first floor.
Residents will be able to move into the apartments beginning Monday, Nov. 4.
Fairmount Homes is located on more than 50 acres and includes two adjoining campuses presently offering more than 100 health care beds, 74 personal care beds, 12 residential suites, 58 apartments, and 52 cottages. The organization is governed by a nine-member board of directors. More information about the organization may be found at http://www.fairmounthomes.org or call 717-354-1887.
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