Brightview Assisted Living is responding to a growing need for elder care in lower Fairfield County with a 90 unit Victorian style community

On April 17, 2014, Brightview Senior Living LLC and its parent company, Shelter Development LLC, based in Baltimore, MD, closed on a four acre property located on New Canaan Avenue in Norwalk. Jerry Effren, Shelter Development’s exclusive representative in Fairfield County, handled the acquisition and entitlement phases of the project. Brightview Senior Living, Shelter’s sister company, will operate the community, which is scheduled to open in mid 2015.

In May, Shelter Development won unanimous approval from the Norwalk P&Z Commission to build a ninety apartment senior living community on the site. The development will provide much needed assisted living, as well as memory care for those suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. Mr. Effren of the Greyrock Companies is actively seeking sites for additional Brightview Senior Living communities in Fairfield County.

“As the son or daughter of aged parents, one of the most difficult decisions to be made is taking Mom and Dad out of their home,” said House Republican Leader, Larry Cafero of Norwalk, whose parents are in their 90’s. “What is almost impossible is to take them out of their community. Assisted living facilities are essential in allowing people to stay in the community where they are most comfortable.”

According to the Stamford Hospital Health Needs Assessment Study in 2010, 13.7% of lower Fairfield County’s population was age 65 or older, and approximately 1 in 4 households (26.4%) had at least one adult over the age of 65 living in it. 

“Elder care is a big issue in lower Fairfield County,” said Norwalk Chamber of Commerce president, Ed Musante. “A few years ago, the Chamber held a focus group with area employers to determine their child care needs. What we found was a real eye-opener. Baby boomer employees were taking sick days to care for their elderly parents, not their children.”

Greyrock Companies principal, Jerry Effren, spoke at the public hearing about his elderly aunt who lived and died next door to the Brightview site. He hoped that he could have convinced her to move into a assisted living community. He posed this tantalizing question, ““Where will the Baby Boomer generation go when they age?”

Mr. Effren went on to explain why Shelter Development chose the Connecticut Gold Coast for its next community. 

“Close to 14 percent of the population in the eight lower Fairfield County towns, known as the Gold Coast, is age 65 or older, and many middle aged residents have a parent or parents who are living out of town and need assistance. The mission of Brightview is to provide vibrant communities for seniors, enriched by the services they need. ”

According to architect, Erik Anderson, Brightview on New Canaan is designed as a 2 ½ story Victorian style building in keeping with neighborhood single family homes.

“The eastern portion of the four acre site will be deeded to the Norwalk Land Trust to create a buffer to the surrounding neighborhood, like a typical backyard,” explained land use attorney, Steve Grushkin, who handled the land use approvals for Shelter Developement.

The community will have studio, one and two bedroom apartments, and all inclusive amenities such as dining and transportation, as well as a 3,000 square foot courtyard and upper garden for outdoor enjoyment. A gracious community dining room will serve chef-prepared meals with table-side service. A dedicated neighborhood known as Wellspring Village will accommodate residents with memory impairment, and service packages will be available to all residents to fit individual needs.

This is Brightview’s second Connecticut senior living community. Brightview also operates Evergreen Woods, a 237unit independent living community with 40 skilled nursing beds on the shoreline in North Branford.