Church plans senior housing complex

The Lakes Lutheran hopes to construct four-story building

Jan Hogan/ViewThe Lakes Lutheran Church, which currently occupies more than 3 acres of land at 8200 W. Sahara Ave., is planning to build a four-story, mixed assisted living and convalescent care housing facility for seniors on some of the campus? unused acreage. Advertisement

The feasibility study's been done. The rezoning applications to the city have been submitted. The city of Las Vegas Planning Commission has given its approval.

The Lakes Lutheran Church, 8200 W. Sahara Ave., is in the process of a big project: a four-story senior housing establishment and child care facility on its property.

The Rev. Carolyn Arness was careful not to speak in definitive terms.

"We're exploring our options ... It's a hope, something we're working toward," she said.

Exploring its options included using Maxfield Research Inc. to determine if there was even a need for a senior living center.

The resulting feasibility study found that The Lakes' market area -- consisting of ZIP codes 89107, 89108, 89117, 89128, 89134, 89135, 89138, 89144, 89145, 89146 and 89147 -- had an estimated 48,240 seniors and 28,900 senior households. That works out to an average household size of 1.67, indicating many seniors live alone.

"Over the next five years, senior households (65-plus) are projected to increase by 7,795, a growth rate of 27 percent, which is significant," the study stated.

The senior housing establishment will be on The Lakes Lutheran's property, on the corner of Cimarron Road.

The church applied to the city of Las Vegas for a proposed 50-foot-tall, four-story building housing 33 senior citizen apartment units, 41 assisted living apartment units and a 22-bed convalescent care facility/nursing home. A child care facility and expansion to the existing church also are planned.

Resident Sue Venezia said having multiple levels of care in one facility is important to older people, especially those with Alzheimer's disease. She should know. Her mother-in-law, Sylvia, 87, is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and now lives in an assisted care facility.

Venezia said the elderly need consistency.

"They don't do well when you move them to another facility," she said. "It's a comfort zone thing for them ... so having it all in one place, that's great."

On July 9, the Planning Commission voted to approve, or approve subject to conditions, a number of items concerning the project, including amending a portion of the Southwest sector plan of the general plan from R (Rural Density Residential) to SC (Service Commercial); rezoning from: C-V (Civic) to: C-1 (Limited Commercial) on 3.88 acres; a variance to allow 160 parking spaces where 205 are required; special use permits for the various levels of care; and a site development plan review for the project.

"I absolutely love this project," Planning Commissioner Vicki Quinn said. "What we don't have enough of in Las Vegas is a three-tier system ... where you can have your parents, all in one place."

Arness said the Lutherans have a long history of owning senior care facilities and that the facility will be similar to another Lutheran project in Sand Point, Idaho, which opened last November.

"Our project is on track to follow a similar timeline," the church's Web site, www.the lakeslutheran.org, stated.

Arness said the effort is in the preliminary stages and no cost or timeline have yet been established for the Summerlin-area project.

Contact Summerlin View and South Summerlin View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.