NEWS

Perhaps you have seen more construction vehicles in town lately? Many are en route to The Pines at Davidson, which recently began a comprehensive rebuilding and expansion project. In addition to enhancing its health care, dining, and fitness spaces, The Pines will add two “Villa” apartment buildings and three cottages. The main entrance is also being reconfigured with a new Avinger Lane extension that leads directly to the Schramm Health Center, providing a second entrance to The Pines.

A significant element of these plans is the addition of a new, two-story nursing wing, connected to the current Health Center. Residential in design, the new wing will feature home-like elements that provide a more pleasing and stimulating environment.

Both floors will have two lounges, each encircled by ten rooms. A “Country Kitchen” dining area, living room and activities area will be located at the center of each floor. New private rooms will be larger in size, permitting enhanced features including bigger windows, private showers, sliding bathroom doors and a small refrigerator/microwave. The Pines accepts direct admissions to its Health Center, where all of its nursing rooms are private.

Additional construction on campus will include a relocated, second-floor Davidson Room as well as a large, first-floor multi-purpose room directly below. An enlarged fitness room will feature a higher ceiling and skylight.

The current Davidson Room will be incorporated into an extensively re-imagined dining service. In addition to full-service dining, residents will now have several new meal venues. A larger, market-place café will include food stations where fresh ingredients will be displayed and cooked to a resident’s specifications. A new coffee and ice cream kiosk will be added as well as a pub, which will serve both beverages and food. Close by will be an outdoor rooftop terrace where residents can eat or relax. These new dining venues will permit The Pines to offer meals throughout the day.

Two new “Villas at Poplar Hill,” each featuring upscale two- and one-bedroom residences with balconies or sunrooms, will be built near The Pines’ main entrance. Three new cottages with attached garages will be added along Kimbrough Circle. Larger accommodations are in great demand among future residents. The Pines also has 37 studios and deluxe studios as well as one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments in its main building. The addition of the new residential buildings and nursing wing will add up to 87 more residents to its current population of approximately 400.

The construction of a road extension and new entrance to The Pines is currently underway. New and relocated parking areas are being created, as well.

Rodgers Builders, the lead contractor for this rebuilding and expansion initiative, has led several earlier construction projects at The Pines. SFCS has served as the projects’ architects, and ColeJenest & Stone has provided landscaping design expertise.

Planning for this project occurred over many years and included a review of improved designs for retirement living, as well as surveys of current and future residents. The initiative will be financed through a combination of tax-exempt bonds, revenue from new independent living residences, reserved funds that include earlier contributions to The Pines, as well as new capital campaign gifts. Construction is tentatively scheduled to be completed by the end of 2020, though some areas may be in service for residents earlier.

Steve Jewell, The Pines’ Executive Director and CEO, said, “The Pines is fortunate to be in a position to enhance what we offer to older adults in the area, as well as to invite more people to become members of our caring community. We truly appreciate the patience of our Davidson neighbors as our construction intrudes on their daily routines. We look forward to the completion of the project and the opportunity for our Davidson friends to see what we’ve accomplished.”

(Article by Motria Procyk, Director of Development & Communications at The Pines)