Pocono News Section

Groundbreaking for New Senior Housing in the Poconos

Groundbreaking for New Senior Housing in the Poconos - Monday, January 11, 2010 at 5:35PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Jan 11, 2010 @ 05:35pm EST
STROUD TWP., MONROE COUNTY -- A big problem in the Poconos will soon improve. Ground was broken for a new senior housing and rehab community near Stroudsburg. The multi-million dollar project is years in the making.

With the flick of the wrist, construction began on a 25-million dollar project that will breathe new life into the Poconos. ItÕs being called Whitestone Village and will be built in two phases.

The first will bring a 90-bed nursing and rehabilitation center to Stroud Township along with a 70-unit senior housing apartment building.

Patty Fretz with Monroe County Area on Aging said, ÒWe were told by Pocono Medical Center that about 50-percent of individuals who are released from the hospital, who need short term/long term rehab, have to go out of the county for services because we only have three nursing facilities here in Monroe County."

Developers came together to talk about the project Monday. ItÕs taken them four years to get to this point. Michael Kelly of Senior Health Solutions said, ÒMost people don't understand thereÕs a moratorium on nursing home bed construction and to get a license, you really have to demonstrate a need and its a very time consuming, tedious process."

At least 140 new jobs will be created by the project. Representative John Siptroth said, ÒWith the industry the way it is now, the employment industry, we always welcome those jobs and the higher paying jobs as well as the construction jobs."

The project got 9 million dollars in federal funding to become a reality. That money is coming from the economic stimulus package.

When the first phase is finished the second phase of the project calls for a 70-bed assisted living center. Developer Robert Yoder said, ÒWe'll have a big community room where people can utilize it for the parties or whatever. We also have sitting areas throughout the building. There will be a computer lab."

Amenities that officials say seniors may be able to enjoy as soon as October of next year. The new Whitestone Village project is being built on an 11-acre piece of land. ItÕs on Route 611 in Stroud Township across from The Home Depot.