Seattle company seeks to build senior housing in Juneau

A Seattle-based company is one step closer to building a 49-unit senior housing facility in Juneau. If successful, it would cater to a region’s housing market that’s been historically difficult for everyone, especially Southeast’s aging population.

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Juneau’s St. Vincent de Paul Society and Seattle-based GMD Development were supposed to break ground on low-income senior housing on this land near the airport. With the partnership over, the land remains untouched. (Photo courtesy St. Vincent de Paul Society)
Juneau’s St. Vincent de Paul Society and Seattle-based GMD Development were supposed to break ground on low-income senior housing on this land near the airport. (Photo courtesy St. Vincent de Paul Society)

Earlier this week, the Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for GMD Development, LLC. The majority of the beds in the proposed housing unit will be low-income affordable housing.

Assemblyman Loren Jones thinks it’s a positive step for the community.

“Where it’s at, it’s going to be next to the assisted living facility, so there’d be a senior complex there in the valley, and I think it’s very important for Juneau for that to take place,” Jones said.

The location of the site is off Clinton Drive, near Safeway. The non-profit Senior Citizens Support Services Inc. plans to build a 90-apartment, assisted-living facility in the same area.

Jones says the proposed housing project would help a market that really needs it.

“I have every anticipation there may yet be some construction work this fall, but I would suspect construction would hopefully start next spring,” Jones said.

A 2014 market study estimated that over the next 30 years, Juneau will need more than 300 additional beds to meet demand given city’s limited space.

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