Updates From Arcadia at Sewanee’s Board of Directors

Arcadia at Sewanee is making steady progress toward bringing a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) to Sewanee.

Recent developments include Janet Cooper joining as program director; LiveWell on the Mountain - the aging-in-place program introduced by Arcadia and managed by Blakeford Senior Life - increasing its membership to 15; and engaging the services of ARCH Consultants last fall to evaluate the feasibility of developing a CCRC on an approximately 12.5-acre site between Kennerly Road and Alabama Avenue.

Of the potential sites considered by Arcadia and the University, this location appears to be the best suited based on access to the campus via existing roadways and the new Heritage Trail, proximity to the Sewanee Village (including the possibility of a walking bridge), and ease of access from Highway 41-A.

Given this progress, where does Arcadia stand today? 

After evaluating a variety of density maps for the preferred site, Arcadia’s board of directors is currently considering a CCRC of up to 100 units based on existing residential leasehold lines. The CCRC would include cottages, row houses, and a central apartment building that would include independent living, assisted living, and memory care units.

In addition, based on further input from ARCH, Blakeford, and HJ Sims (investment bankers), the Board has interviewed three nationally recognized companies to perform a market study that would delineate the CCRC’s primary and secondary markets, analyze the demand for this type of facility based on demographics of the area, make recommendations for the pricing of units, and determine its financing feasibility.

Part of this process will include confirmation that the Alabama site is the optimal location for the CCRC. It is expected that this study will help reduce potential lender concerns regarding Sewanee’s rural location and the CCRC’s reliance on a higher-than-typical percentage of residents coming from a secondary market.

Arcadia expects the CCRC to be considered a destination location based on Sewanee’s natural beauty and the appeal of a university-based environment.

For more information, please contact Janet Cooper.

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The mission of Arcadia at Sewanee is to serve older adults in a residential living community with services that: encourage active, healthy living; respect each individual's dignity, rights, and independence; value ongoing educational, artistic, and community service offerings; and offer opportunities for intergenerational relationships.

Janet Cooper Named Arcadia Program Director

Arcadia at Sewanee’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Janet Cooper, a Sewanee resident and University of the South graduate (C’80), has been hired to assume the role of program director for the organization. Janet will share her 40 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, most recently as director of the Plateau’s South Cumberland Community Fund.

Arcadia’s board continues to make progress with ARCH Consultants’ efforts to determine the feasibility of a retirement community located between Kennerly Road and Alabama Avenue in Sewanee.

ARCH’s conclusions and recommendations will include the topographical suitability of the site, a preliminary site design and architectural renderings of the buildings, a development budget and financial forecast.

The project remains in a very preliminary stage but concrete steps are being taken toward Arcadia’s goal of bringing a continuing care retirement facility to Sewanee.

Update From the Board of Directors

Dear Friends of Arcadia, 

Thank you again for completing the Arcadia at Sewanee ProMatura survey. Galvanized by the encouraging results of the survey conducted several months ago, Arcadia at  Sewanee’s Board of Directors is excited to share the steps we have taken toward the goal of developing a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Sewanee.  

First, we are pleased to announce that Janet Cooper has been hired by Arcadia at  Sewanee to share her 40 years of experience in nonprofit management. In 2017, Janet returned to the Mountain to assist with the care of her mother, a 50-year Sewanee resident, and feels particularly connected to the possibility of establishing a CCRC in Sewanee. Janet’s past work with educational and arts-related organizations - and, most recently, as former director of the Plateau’s South Cumberland Community  Fund - will be an asset to the organization. 

In the spring of 2022, Arcadia introduced Blakeford Senior Life’s aging-in-place program,  LiveWell on the Mountain, to the Sewanee and Monteagle communities. The program was officially launched in November 2022 and now has 11 community members, with plans to continue to expand its membership. One of the many positive results of this relationship has been the support we have received from Brian Barnes, President and  CEO of Blakeford, a 501(c)(3) CCRC based in Nashville.  

Over the course of the past summer, Arcadia board members met with Blakeford executives and representatives of HJ Sims, an investment banking firm actively involved in financing retirement facilities, to discuss the survey results and next steps to maximize the success of such a development. Concurrently, Arcadia contracted with an engineering consultant to determine the suitability of three potential sites for a  retirement facility.  

Meetings between Arcadia, Blakeford, and HJ Sims led to the engagement of ARCH  Consultants of Chicago, IL, a consulting firm that works primarily with faith-based  CCRC’s, and that has worked with HJ Sims on several projects. After visiting potential locations ARCH is evaluating the possibility of a CCRC on a 12.5-acre site between Alabama Avenue and Kennerly Road. This site seems to be best suited for consideration due to its existing infrastructure, access to the campus via roadways and the new Heritage  Trail, proximity to the Sewanee Village (including the possibility of a walking bridge), and ease of access from Highway 41-A. 

Over the next two to three months ARCH will evaluate the topographical suitability of the site, prepare a site design and architectural renderings of the buildings, and create a  development budget and financial forecast. ARCH and Arcadia board members will work closely with the University, neighboring leaseholders, and the community at large in developing these plans.  

Arcadia has covered the costs for all the above efforts, and it has raised sufficient funds to cover the initial ARCH Consultants fee. Arcadia anticipates that, based on ARCH’s conclusions, the next step will be to raise additional contributions and arrange long-term financing for the project. 

Thank you for your interest in the development of a continuing care facility in Sewanee.  Our shared love for this special place is a testament to the desire of many of us to live out our years on the Mountain. We look forward to your continued involvement in this process,  and, as promised, we will continue to keep you informed via emails and on Arcadia’s website. 

On behalf of the Arcadia at Sewanee Board of Directors, I wish you a wonderful holiday season. 

George Elliott, C’81 

President 

Arcadia at Sewanee 

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The mission of Arcadia at Sewanee is to serve older adults in a residential living  community with services that: encourage active, healthy living; respect each individual's dignity, rights and independence; value ongoing educational, artistic and community service offerings; and offer opportunities for intergenerational relationships.

Arcadia at Sewanee Engages ARCH Consultants

Arcadia at Sewanee, the not-for-profit organization working to establish a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Sewanee, has engaged ARCH Consultants, Ltd., of Chicago to assess the feasibility of developing independent living, assisted living, and memory care units on a 13.2-acre site between Alabama Avenue and Kennerly Road.  

Over the past 18 months, Arcadia at Sewanee has been very active in its effort to fulfill its mission: “To serve older adults in a residential living community with services that: encourage active, healthy living; respect each individual's dignity, rights and independence; value ongoing educational, artistic and community service offerings; and offer opportunities for intergenerational relationships.”

Highlights Include the Following:

• In the Spring of 2022, Arcadia introduced Blakeford Senior Life’s aging-in-place program, LiveWell on the Mountain, to the Sewanee and Monteagle communities.  The program was officially launched in November 2022 with the enrollment of ten community members, and it continues to expand membership.

• In a parallel effort, Arcadia engaged ProMatura, a nationally recognized firm, to perform a survey to gauge the demand for a CCRC in Sewanee.  The results, which were made available in early 2023, revealed strong interest from alumni and area residents that led ProMatura to recommend that Arcadia pursue this effort, contact a developer, and seek financing.

• Over the course of the summer of 2023, Arcadia Board members met with Blakeford Senior Life executives and with representatives of HJ Sims, an investment banking firm actively involved in financing retirement facilities, to discuss the results of the survey and steps to be taken to maximize the success of such a development.

• Concurrently Arcadia engaged the services an engineering consultant to determine the suitability of three potential sites for a retirement facility.  Two of the three sites were found to be suitable.

• Meetings with HJ Sims and Blakeford also led Arcadia to engage the services of ARCH Consultants of Chicago, IL, to evaluate the Alabama Avenue site and recommend a plan for its development. ARCH Consultants works primarily with faith-based CCRC’s and has worked jointly with HJ Sims on several projects.

• Conclusions drawn to date by Arcadia’s Board of Directors include:

  • The demand from area residents, current and retired University staff, and from University alumni, warrant the continued effort to develop a CCRC in Sewanee.

  • Feedback from consultants, primarily HJ Sims, indicates that the project should not be overly reliant on alumni relocating to Sewanee for their retirement years:  it should be driven primarily by local area demand.

  • Pricing of the retirement units should be commensurate with real estate prices in the area, not higher.

  • Support and involvement from the University is very important.

  • A multigenerational facility should be considered.

  • The CCRC should be built with convenient access to the University campus and to the Village.

  • To minimize the financial risk associated with the development of a CCRC, the project should be phased in accordance with a master plan that would first include the development of independent living units tied to Sewanee’s unique setting. Later phases would entail the development of assisted living and memory care facilities.

  • The envisioned CCRC would be an economically diverse community.

Next Steps:

• ARCH Consultants will take about 3-4 months to develop their recommendations.

• They will focus their effort on a 13.2-acre site between Alabama Avenue and Kennerly Road.  This is not the only possible site but, as of now, it seems to be the one best suited for consideration because of existing infrastructure, access to campus via roads and the new Heritage Trail, proximity to the Village (including the possibility of a walking bridge), and ease of access from Highway 41-A.

• Costs: Arcadia has covered the costs for all the above efforts, and it has raised sufficient funds to cover the initial ARCH Consultants fee.  Arcadia anticipates that, based on the ARCH Consultants’ conclusions, it will have to raise additional contributions and arrange long-term financing for the project.

• Arcadia Board members and ARCH Consultants representatives will work closely with the University, neighboring leaseholders, and the community at large in developing these plans. Of vital importance is the relationship with the St. Mark’s Community to preserve its identity and significance to Sewanee.

Arcadia at Sewanee Reports Results of Survey

Arcadia at Sewanee received encouraging results from a survey launched in November to determine the demand for a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Sewanee. The survey was conducted by ProMatura, a national consulting firm that is recognized as one of the strongest possible advisors for such projects. The Arcadia at Sewanee Board of Directors is grateful to the alumni, retired and current faculty and staff, and area residents who dedicated their time to complete the survey. The number of responses enabled ProMatura to make its recommendations with a high degree of confidence.

Arcadia’s Board is diligently working toward next steps which include active discussions with the University of the South regarding possible sites for the CCRC. Below is a summary of ProMatura’s conclusions and recommendations.

The results indicate sufficient demand to support a CCRC on or near the University domain. ProMatura recommends that Arcadia continue its work to develop a retirement community of up to 140 units with approximately 70 percent being independent living, 20 percent assisted living, and 10 percent memory care units. ProMatura further recommends that Arcadia at Sewanee identify a strong CCRC developer and initiate financing options.

ProMatura recommends a mix of one- and two-bedroom independent living apartments of 800 to 1,500 square feet, and cottages of up to 2,200 square feet.

The survey indicates that any of several location types would be workable, including in a woodland area on the Domain, or near “Downtown Sewanee,” or with a bluff view near the Domain. Several possible sites are under active discussion.

Supporting observations and conclusions include:

• Nearly 90 percent of respondents indicate that they feel positive or very positive about Sewanee as a potential location;

• Just over 50 percent of the respondents are alumni, reside in Tennessee, with a high concentration living in Sewanee and its surrounding communities;

• Services rated as most essential include dedicated assisted living and memory care apartments, scheduled shuttle service to University venues and events, and opportunities for lifelong learning;

• Desired amenities include a restaurant style dining room, tech and computer services, a library/reading room, and a fitness center;

• More than half the respondents indicate they are interested in intergenerational friendships; and

• Approximately one third of the respondents requested to be kept informed of Arcadia at Sewanee’s progress toward establishing a CCRC.

ProMatura noted that arrangements for access to state-of-the-art healthcare will be an important consideration.

Arcadia’s Board looks forward to sharing developments during the coming months, and updates can be found on Arcadia’s new website.

LiveWell on the Mountain Enrolls its first Members

The LiveWell on the Mountain program has officially launched in Sewanee and Monteagle, welcoming its first 10 enrolled members. 

LiveWell is an at-home continuing care program for those wishing to remain in their homes as they age. The non-profit provides a Folks at Home membership, personalized care coordination, wellness programs, transportation for essential services, home care assistance, and, when necessary, priority access to the Blakeford residential communities. 

LiveWell and Folks at Home have already initiated a plan for joint wellness programming for their respective members which includes a variety of physical, educational, and social activities. It was first introduced to the Sewanee/Monteagle community in April at a Sewanee Inn reception sponsored by Arcadia at Sewanee and Folks at Home. LiveWell on the Mountain, part of a Nashville-based not-for-profit that includes the well-regarded Blakeford at Green Hills, offers independent living to Monteagle and Sewanee residents. 

Stay tuned for upcoming public events.

More information about Blakeford’s LiveWell program can be found at https://blakeford.com/livewell.

More information about Folks at Home can be found at http://folksathome.org.

Arcadia at Sewanee Launches Survey

Arcadia at Sewanee’s Board of Directors announces the launch of a survey that will determine the demand for the establishment of a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Sewanee. ProMatura, a consulting firm that is recognized nationally as one of the strongest possible advisors for such projects, has been engaged to develop and analyze the survey’s results. The survey is being disseminated to a broad range of constituents including the University’s current and retired faculty and staff, University and St. Andrew’s-Sewanee alumni, and residents of Sewanee and its surrounding communities.

The survey asks you to consider becoming a resident in a potential retirement community with questions related to its possible location on or near the University Domain, and what services, amenities, and lodging you would prefer. ProMatura will evaluate the responses to quantify the demand for a CCRC which will enable Arcadia, the University, and potential developers to determine the feasibility of a retirement community in Sewanee.

This effort complements Arcadia’s introduction of LiveWell on the Mountain’s aging-in-place services to the Sewanee and Monteagle communities. These two efforts are aimed at creating two viable options for those interested in coming to Sewanee to live out their retirement years.

LiveWell on the Mountain: Informational Meeting

Community members will have the opportunity to learn more about the LiveWell program at an open meeting at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 5, in the Torian Room in the duPont Library. Anyone wishing to attend is encouraged to contact Jane Kelley at jane.kelley@blakeford.com or (615) 665-0694.

LiveWell on the Mountain, part of a Nashville based non-for-profit that includes the well-regarded Blakeford at Green Hills, offers independent-living to Monteagle and Sewanee residents. LiveWell, an at-home continuing care program for those who wish to remain in their homes as they age, is a program that was first introduced to the Sewanee/Monteagle community in April at a Sewanee Inn reception sponsored by Arcadia at Sewanee and Folks at Home. 

Several community members have already submitted formal reservation agreements to be among the initial charter membership group. Arcadia Board president, George Elliott, sees this as a very promising response: “Arcadia has been searching for a more comprehensive retirement solution for this community, and we believe LiveWell is an important piece of that solution.”

LiveWell memberships will include, among other services, a Folks at Home membership, personalized care coordination, wellness programs, transportation for essential services, home care assistance, and, when necessary, priority access to the Blakeford residential communities.

LiveWell on the Mountain

Folks at Home and Arcadia at Sewanee have joined in sponsoring a major new initiative to enable older adults to age in place here. The new program, LiveWell on the Mountain, is being offered to healthy independent-living residents in the Sewanee and Monteagle area through Blakeford Senior Life, the Nashville based not-for-profit parent of the Blakeford at Green Hills continuing care retirement community founded in 1996. It will be an extension of the successful LiveWell By Blakeford program in the Nashville area.

LiveWell on the Mountain was introduced to guests at a reception held on April 28 at the Sewanee Inn where George Elliott, Chair of Arcadia at Sewanee, Craig Stubblebine, President of Folks at Home, and David Shipps, the University’s Vice President of Economic Development and Community Relations, each welcomed this new service to the Mountain. While there are no legal ties between these entities and LiveWell, Arcadia at Sewanee and Folks at Home played leading roles in establishing the connection with LiveWell.

 Brian Barnes, President and CEO of Blakeford Senior Life, and Jane Kelley, Executive Director of LiveWell By Blakeford, presented information on the company and, specifically, the features and benefits of the LiveWell’s aging in place program. Historically, the choice for healthy older adults who want a plan in place has been either to relocate to a community where life care is an option, or to stay at home and depend on the provisions of a long-term care insurance plan. LiveWell offers a third option that includes a Folks at Home membership and, among other services, personalized care coordination, wellness programs, transportation to essential services, home care assistance, and, when necessary, priority access to the Blakeford residential communities. 

LiveWell will be offering additional information sessions on May 24 in Sewanee. If you are interested in attending and/or learning more about LiveWell on the Mountain, please contact Jane Kelley at jane.kelley@blakeford.com or (615) 665-0694.

News from Arcadia at Sewanee

Arcadia at Sewanee’s Board of Trustees is considering both an innovative approach to bringing a “Life Plan at Home” concept to the Mountain and engaging a national leader in market research for retirement communities. 

Discussions are ongoing with a Nashville-based nonprofit organization, Blakeford Senior Life, to establish a life plan at home program for the Sewanee area. Blakeford’s program, LiveWell by Blakeford, provides a personalized approach to healthy and independent people who want to live at home as they age. This program incorporates personalized wellness and preventative services with, should health unexpectedly change, a full plan of services for the member’s lifetime. The working group in dialogue with Blakeford includes representation of Sewanee’s Folks at Home based on the premise that both programs could successfully co-exist and grow.

 Arcadia’s second initiative is to undertake a second, more in depth, market study of the demand for an independent living facility in Sewanee. This evaluation, the cost of which will be borne by Arcadia, is deemed necessary for all vested parties, including Blakeford, to quantify the demand for a facility, the type of facility, and programs and services desired. 

Arcadia board members and David Shipps, the University’s Vice President of Development and Community Affairs, have had very productive discussions related to the above approaches and longer-term University and Arcadia objectives.