As four golden shovels turned over soil, Chapel Pointe family and friends erupted in applause on Friday, June 15, 2018. The ceremony at Chapel Pointe commemorated the groundbreaking of Chapel Pointe’s second campus – an exclusively independent living townhome community – called Pointe Place.
Two of the groundbreakers, the Chapel Pointe executive director and president of the board, were anticipated. The other two, Ruth Jarrett and John Hockensmith, represented two families with quiet, yet vast, impacts on Carlisle’s seniors.
Jarrett, one of the first people to reserve one of the 12 Pointe Place townhomes, lived at Chapel Pointe while her parents worked on the campus. Her grandfather, Rev. Fred W. Henry, envisioned, founded, and led Chapel Pointe during his own “retirement” years. Since the dedication on June 15, 1944, Chapel Pointe has grown to include 175 employees, almost 200 residents, and now two campuses.
Similarly, Hockensmith’s father, a World War II prisoner of war escapee named Robert, envisioned a townhome neighborhood for adults. When the elder Hockensmith passed away, his son took the mantle upon himself to see his vision through to completion, eventually approaching Chapel Pointe in 2015 to help make the dream a reality.
Held on Chapel Pointe’s 74th anniversary, the groundbreaking ceremony honored the history that paved the way for Pointe Place and celebrated the visionaries who find new ways to provide a loving way of life for local adults.
“The Pointe Place enhanced living experience is unprecedented in Carlisle,” said Debbie Sprague, Chapel Pointe executive director. “Carlisle offers adult communities, and it offers continuing care retirement communities. However, Pointe Place is a foray into a new senior living genre that combines the benefits of both types of communities. It’s a lifestyle that empowers residents with the freedom and security to thrive.”
Ideally located along Ritner Highway, Pointe Place reimagines senior living in Carlisle by providing a standalone community of 12 townhomes and a community building on 1.5 acres where each resident also has access to all of the healthcare services and recreational opportunities offered two miles away at Chapel Pointe.
Pointe Place sets new standards of excellence for seniors in Carlisle by utilizing high-quality and low-maintenance materials and finishes to add to residents’ maintenance-free lifestyle. Acrylic solid surface countertops provide durability and hygienic features without needing to be sealed like stone. Cabinetry includes soft-close drawers for safety and a custom storage system for ease of access. Open floor plans, comfort height toilets, and walk-in showers enhance mobility.
The $5 million project will begin in July with scheduled completion in late summer 2019. Reservations are being taken now. The Pointe Place project team includes Chapel Pointe, Cornerstone Design Architects; Arthur Funk and Sons, Inc.; RGS Associates; C.S. Davidson, Inc.; and GCI Design, Inc.
For more information about Pointe Place, visit www.PointePlace.org.