Bristol Commissioners Approve New Facility

By Dean Wright, The Bristol Press

August 9, 2021

The Bristol Economic and Community Development Board of Commissioners passed a motion for an abatement and approval Thursday of a new KindCare Assisted Living facility slated for construction at 483 North Main Street, pending the acceptance of City Council.

“I think the development itself is obviously quite beneficial for us for many different reasons but often what is lost is the service that Mark and KindCare is bringing to this community.

The idea of an assisted living concept that is more affordable for people that need that I think is really critical,” said Bristol Economic and Community Development Director Justin Malley.

KindCare CEO Mark De Pecol noted that the proposed assisted living facility was meant for middle class clients.

“Really there isn’t a product out there for that with just a couple exceptions,” said De Pecol. “We keep the costs down. We’re about 20 to 25% lower than luxury assisted living but we have the same amenities. That’s the nice thing about it with first class dining, wellness, libraries, arts and crafts.”

He noted that KindCare incorporated pandemic resistant features in its building plan such as telehealth or remote visitation to be on a more “cutting edge” implementation of service.

“We have ultraviolet areas over the whole building which zaps the bacteria and viruses,” said De Pecol.

Around 75 jobs, part-time and full-time are anticipated to be created with the facility’s creation. Commission discussion noted that market averages for luxury assisted living facilities can be around $6,000 a month or more.

The Bristol KindCare facility is slated to cost residents around $4,300 a month. KindCare intends to keep costs down in part by having residents paired with a suitemate. Each suite will share a common area, a kitchenette, a bathroom and two bedrooms.

The average age of anticipated residents is around 85. KindCare representatives said that with loneliness and depression being a common happening among individuals residing in assisted living, a suitemate helps provide companionship for residents.

KindCare COO Seth Dudley said that residences and families are assessed and introduced to find the best match of suitemates.

De Pecol called the proposed Bristol facility a “showpiece” and an example of what assisted living facilities could look like going forward in the area. It is anticipated to be around 60,000 square feet and hold 60 living units.

In the first floor of the building is a proposed lobby, common area, courtyard exit, main dining and private dining areas, arts and crafts area, a media room and bistro for those who may not be interested in the meal of the day. The second floor will include residences and the third floor will hold a self-contained memory care unit with its own dining area, activity area and courtyard. The fourth and fifth floor will also hold residences.

The facility is for private pay but does accept veteran aid and attendance program assistance.

The KindCare facility is expected to be built within an enterprise zone and as such offers a tax savings program.

Commissioner Howard Schmelder made a motion to approve a tax abatement to then be sent to the City Council for approval in the following form. For the first construction year there would be 100% abatement of improvements during construction with the land value still being taxable. The second year would see the same terms.

Year one of operation would see a 97.2% real property tax abatement. Year two of operation would be the same. Year three would see a 60 percent real property tax abatement. The fourth year of operation would see a 50% real property tax abatement. The fifth year of operation would see the same. The sixth and seventh years of operation would see 40% real property tax abatements and the eight year would see at 30% abatement.

City officials noted that the property had sat vacant for nearly 20 years and taxes received from it had only been for the value of the land. Pandemic-related challenges had also made it harder for businesses to seek development financing.

According to paperwork linked to the meeting’s agenda on the Bristol City Hall website, the estimates say the developer would save around $1.4 million over a 10-year period with a fully developed and occupied building having an estimated assessed value of around $7,700,000. Bristol’s current mill rate is 38.35.