Isabella Campus Study

In August 2010 Isabella Geriatric Center, Inc. (Isabella) engaged Jonathan Rose Companies (JRCo) to provide consulting services to explore the feasibility of the redevelopment and expansion of its campus to provide a variety of residential and medical service options for senior citizens. JRCo worked with Isabella's executive staff to develop a “Guiding Program” for the campus. Their vision was to provide an “urban continuum of care” for seniors throughout the aging process on an active campus that was connected to its surrounding community. The following were identified as priorities:

1. Add independent, affordable senior housing
2. Reduce nursing beds and make remaining beds more person-centered
3. Increase assisted living beds to replace nursing home beds
4. Consolidate and expand space for community / education programs

Based on the priorities outlined above, JRCo focused on the feasibility of developing independent, affordable housing on Isabella's campus, which would include space for community/education programs. JRCo and Perkins Eastman identified a feasible affordable housing development on the campus's northeast corner and produced physical plans, massing studies, construction cost estimates, and financial proformas for the project. Separately, there was also an effort made to gather best practices related to person-centered nursing homes. 

The goals of reducing nursing home beds and increasing assisted living beds were addressed by a HEAL 19 application submitted by Isabella in October 2010.