Spokane Valley senior community completes extensive expansion
Evergreen Fountains, a senior living community in Spokane Valley, recently completed a more than $12 million expansion project to add a three-story living facility, cottages, a skywalk and an outdoor recreation park.
Evergreen Fountains – co-owned by real estate developers Prokey and Greg Arger and Greg’s son, Gene – opened in 2008 with more than 106 independent, light-assisted and assisted-living apartments.
The expansion project includes a 61,700-square-foot building at 1201 N. Evergreen Road that features one-, two- and three-bedroom units with large modern floor plans, balconies and full kitchens.
“We have a really nice selection with modern concepts and lots of lighting,” Greg Arger said. “There’s something for everybody here.”
The state of the art building – which also contains a game room, common areas and a coffee and juice bar – will connect to the facility’s existing four-story main building via an enclosed skywalk.
“It’s a nice amenity for residents, especially in the wintertime,” said Gene Arger. “They can walk across the skywalk and it brings the whole campus together.”
The project also contains a separate building with 12 cottage triplexes, garages, wellness amenities, a putting green and an outdoor recreation park with trails.
“The residents are very excited because we’ve added new amenities, which they’ll take advantage of,” said Greg Arger.
Residents will have access to existing amenities such as an indoor pool and wellness area, movie theater, computer lab, chapel, dining room and Athena’s Cabaret – a wine tasting and entertainment room with live music.
Independent living units run about $2,500 monthly for a 710-square-foot apartment to more than $3,100 for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage. Rent – which is typically on a month-to-month agreement – includes utilities, cable television, two meals, housekeeping, as well as access to activities and the wellness center.
The Arger family began construction on the expansion project last year.
Spokane Valley-based T.W. Clark Construction, LLC served as general contractor for the project. Sam Nystrom of Katerra Architecture designed the structures.
Greg Arger said the expansion project was driven by demand for more senior housing in Spokane Valley.
The community has remained at 95 percent occupancy for the past five years, Gene Arger added.
About half of residents at Evergreen Fountains are from Spokane County, while others move to the area from states as far as Texas, Arizona and Florida to be closer to their kids.
Seniors enjoy the location because of its proximity to hospitals, shopping and Interstate 90, said Gene Arger.
The facility is fully staffed with 60 employees including two full-time nurses in the assisted living wing. The Argers lease space to a hairstylist, dental hygienist, physical therapist and licensed nurse practitioner to provide services to residents.
Greg Arger said the facility’s varied floor plans allow additional choices for residents who may decide to downsize or upsize in the future.
“You can move here and be here for a long time because you can transition to a different living space,” he said. “It’s about finding the right fit for residents to give them a good quality of life.”
Greg Arger founded Arger Co. Real Estate, Inc., a real estate and property management firm, in 1979.
The Argers manage more than 375,000 square feet of property, including the CenterPointe Business Park and the Sunset Pointe Corporate Park in Spokane Valley.
The Argers in a joint venture developed Orchard Crest Retirement Community about 15 years ago. They broke off from the partnership in 2008 to focus efforts on constructing Evergreen Fountains.
The Argers, through their family-owned real estate company, assist prospective residents with selling their homes and can provide moving services.
Senior housing is a booming market in the 82-to-86 age range, which typically dominates the assisted and independent living market. That market is predicted to grow by 29 percent – or 1.5 million people by 2025, according to a Price Waterhouse Cooper’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate report.
Gene Arger said because Evergreen Fountains is a family-owned business, it sets the senior living community apart from corporately-owned facilities.
“Residents like the family feel of the community,” he said. “They know us. And, we get to know their families, too.”
Evergreen Fountains on Aug. 4 is hosting a grand opening celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. that is open to the public, and will include live music, food and community tours.