223-Unit Senior Living Complex Advances

SCOTTSDALE, AZ-Construction on McDowell Village, a 223-unit residential complex in the new McDowell Village Senior Center campus, has begun. The project is being developed by Phoenix-based Opus West Corp. and local firm RED Group LLC, and is scheduled for completion during the first quarter 2006.The complex, which is located at McDowell and Granite Reef Roads, is comprised of two- and three-story buildings. It features a mix of one-bedroom units, one-bedroom plus den units and two-bedroom units situated around landscaped courtyards. The units, which will be suited for people 55 years and older, are for independent residents rather than assisted living. Amenities include a pool, therapeutic spa, dining room for breakfast and dinner, bistro area, library, movie theater, pub, multi-purpose room and billiards and card rooms. According to Scott Laten, a partner in RED Group, more than 570 people have inquired about McDowell Village, and the property receives nearly 30 interest calls a week. He says new baby boomers are driving the demand.McDowell Village is adjacent to the 37,500-sf McDowell Village Senior Center, which is expected to attract 1,200 guests daily. It will offer a dining room for lunch service, a great hall, fitness facility,computer lab, classrooms, outdoor activity area and neighborhood resource center. Completion for the senior center, which is also under construction, is scheduled for the end this year.The land that McDowell Village and the senior center sit on formerly housed a Smitty’s supermarket. The land had been vacant since mid-1999 and was later purchased by the City of Scottsdale. Opus Westfinalized the purchase of the land mid-December 2004. Phoenix-based ORB Architecture LLC designed McDowell Village, and the general contractor is Opus West Construction Corp. McDowell Village is Opus West’s second multifamily project in the Valley. In January,Opus West broke ground on Scottsdale Waterfront Residences, a 198-unit, two-tower luxury condominium property at Scottsdale and Camelback Roads.