The unmet need in the community.
The core neighborhoods and communities of central Kansas City, MO suffer from a severe shortage of modern, decent and affordable assisted living and residential care facilities. Seniors and others with this need must choose (if they have a choice) between outdated facilities and suburban developments far removed from family, neighbors and the institutions they have participated in all their lives.
Over the past 25 years a number of Federal and State financing programs have created a supply of decent and affordable independent-living senior citizen apartments throughout central Kansas City. This has allowed limited-income senior citizen households to remain close to their families and support networks without the maintenance and ownership costs of a single-family house. However, these apartment developments report that each year between 5% and 10% of their residents need to seek assisted living residential care in a licensed facility or go to live with family.
Limited personal resources greatly restrict the availability and choice of care options. For many, leaving their home neighborhood and community is the only choice. The majority of modern, better-equipped suburban facilities are financially out of reach for many of these individuals, charging up to $6,000 per month for housing and services.
Including the six outdated and marginal licensed facilities within the area south of the Missouri River to 81st Street and from Broadway to I-435, a recent review demonstrated a need for 51 additional beds in the nine central-city zip codes service area.
Based upon this information, the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee granted Palestine Legacy Residences a Certificate of Need for a new 39-bed facility.
PEDC RESPONDS TO THE NEED: Palestine Legacy Residences
Palestine Legacy Residences (PLR) is the next phase of the Palestine Village Continuum of Care Plan envisioned by the late Reverend Earl Abel of Palestine Missionary Baptist Church to serve the residents of Kansas City’s east side neighborhoods. The Palestine Village campus along Prospect Avenue now includes 118 apartments for very-low-income seniors (62+) in the Palestine Gardens and Palestine Gardens North buildings, the 35,000 sf Palestine Senior Activity Center, and 69 affordable apartments for seniors (55+) at the Palestine Commons development.
Palestine Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) has been awarded a Certificate of Need for a 39-bed assisted living facility, Palestine Legacy Residences, to be located in Kansas City, Missouri. This new, up-to-date assisted living facility serving a low-income senior citizen population has an estimated cost of $7.3 mm.
After review of several locations and existing buildings, PEDC has determined that a new, single purpose building at the south end of the Palestine Village development is the most efficient and advantageous plan.
A new 25,000 square foot building will facilitate current assisted living care standards and compliment the other components of Palestine Village.
The primary goal of the project is to make modern and decent assisted living care available to limited-income residents of central Kansas City.
Modern care facilities, located in suburban Kansas City, charge $4,000-$6,000 per month or more. This cost is beyond the reach of most community residents. By limiting debt, PLR proposes to operate with monthly resident charges between $1,800 and $3,500, with an average cost of $2,700 per month. This will put first-class, conveniently located assisted living care within reach of many community members and their families. Additional outcomes include:
Creation of 25 new, permanent health-care jobs at a living wage or above.
Elimination of blighted properties and neighborhood nuisances.
Extension of the continuum of care provided by the Palestine Village developments allowing senior citizens and other residents to remain in the community and supporting existing businesses and institutions.
Increased use of and support for transit investments including the Prospect MAX BRT line.