Givens Highland Farms completes one expansion project, constructing another
BLACK MOUNTAIN - Givens Highland Farms has completed a portion of an expansion project that has been two years in the making.
The continuing care retirement community sits on 85 acres and, prior to the expansion, had 259 independent living homes. When completed, the expansion project will see more than 60 new homes. The Brookside building added 30 new homes and Vista Ridge will add 36 new homes when construction is completed in the spring.
In a news release announcing the completion of Brookside, Executive Director of Givens Highland Farms Ken Kramer said he was excited about the expansion.
“Our expansion with the Brookside homes provides another welcoming place for older adults to call home,” Kramer said in the release. “It’s an environment that encourages interests, passions and fosters friendships for a vibrant and thriving lifestyle.”
Josue Molina, director of sales and marketing for Givens Communities, told Black Mountain News the Brookside expansion was completed Oct. 31 and residents started moving in Nov. 1. As of Nov. 15, 19 residents have moved into the new homes.
Molina said that, along with the homes, the Brookside expansion also saw the building of a new dining area and multipurpose space. He said a new amenity space will also be added.
In addition to these expansions, residents at Givens Highland Farms also have access to a library, lifelong learning classrooms and hiking trails around the property.
Molina said the Vista Ridge expansion should be completed with residents moving in by spring of next year. Givens Highland Farms will soon be accepting nonbinding agreements for the Vista Ridge homes.
According to the news release, Givens Highland Farms is able to accept these nonbinding agreements due to an approval by the North Carolina Department of Insurance, the entity that oversees continuing care retirement communities like Givens Highland Farms.
Molina said these expansions are part of the master planning process that Givens Highland Farms undertook in 2021.
Givens Highland Farms is part of the Asheville-based nonprofit Givens Communities, a group of four senior living communities.
Givens Highlands Farms was started in 1971 by Chet Prentice and local Black Mountain leaders, then known as Highland Farms Health Care Center, with 60 beds.
Givens Highland Farms was acquired by Givens Estates in 2012.
Givens Estates houses 1,500 adults across Western North Carolina.
Molina told Black Mountain News that Givens Communities and other communities like it in the industry are experiencing an increase in interest.
“We’re seeing a lot of interest with out industry for continuing care retirement communities,” Molina said. “Both of them have really strong waitlists with folks wanting to move into the community. Some are planning for the future, but others are really eager and moving in now. There is definitely a need to provide housing and those services for folks.”
Karrigan Monk is the Swannanoa Valley communities reporter for Black Mountain News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kmonk@blackmountainnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Givens Highland Farms expanding with two new living facilities
