CDS breaks ground on Monarch Senior Living project in Webster

On April 20, CDS held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Monarch Senior Living facility on Holt Rd. Despite the rainy weather, about 50 people attended the ceremony. Speakers included Sankar Sewnauth (CDS president/CEO), Mark Peterson (CDS board chair and president & CEO, Greater Rochester Enterprise), Maggie Brooks (Monroe County executive), Joseph Robach (New York State Senator), Jean Lowe (president, Greater Rochester Housing Partnership), Tom Van Nortwick (assistant commissioner for regional affairs, NYS Homes & Community Renewal), Wayne Willard (director, project management, U.S. Department of HUD), Roger Brandt, Jr. (president, Rochester's Cornerstone Group, Ltd.), and Barry Deane (Webster town board). CDS was awarded $8.5 million of funding for this project from NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation, the HUD 202 Program, Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, and the Monroe County HOME Program. "The construction of the Monarch facility further extends CDS' mission to provide quality residential opportunities and diversifies the services we offer," said Sankar Sewnauth, CDS president/CEO. "Monarch Senior Living is an integrated setting where people with developmental disabilities can live side by side with non-disabled people. We are very proud to be able to offer this opportunity to the residents of Webster and the surrounding towns." Monarch Senior Living will offer 45 affordable apartments for seniors, 10 that are fully accessible, in a safe and comfortable environment. Residents will also be offered opportunities for on-site socialization, entertainment and events. The new Monarch facility will have affordable rental costs, immediate access to transportation through CDS and direct access to North Ponds Park. Residents will also have full access to the CDS Wolf Life Transitions Center which is less than a mile away from Monarch. The Wolf Life Transitions Center houses a therapeutic aquatics center, fitness center, restaurant, several recreation therapies and is home to the CDS Warrior SALUTE Program. The project is made possible with the partnership of Rochester's Cornerstone Group, Ltd., Cornerstone Housing Development Corporation, Lecesse Construction as general contractor, SWBR Architects as architect and Rochester Management Inc. as the management agent. All of us at CDS express our gratitude to our partners for their roles in making this project a reality. Monarch Senior Living is expected to open in January 2012.