Fieldhome Expansion Project Moves Along, Planning Board Approves Plan

With the growing population and people living longer, Fieldhome officials to create an independent living facility to accommodate for the need.

Yorktown planning board members approved last week the site plan, tree, wetlands and stormwater permits for a plan to build a Continuing Care Retirement Community on Catherine Street. 

Once built, the Continuing Care Retirement Community would be the first in the Northern Westchester area and the third in the county. 

Continuing care retirement communities are residential alternatives for adults that offer, under one contract, an independent living unit, residential amenities and access to long term care services, as residents' health and social needs change over time.

The project would include 102 independent living units (one and two-bedroom units) and a new skilled nursing home with 96 beds, all built on 30 acres. The current Field Home Holy Comforter nursing home will be removed as part of the construction of the new facilities. The Field Hall building would be remodeled and the back portion would be used for administrative offices, the applicant's attorney Al Capellini said. 

In addition, the early learning center, which operates Monday through Friday and serves 30 children between ages 6 weeks to 5 years, according to information posted on Fieldhome's website, will be relocated when the new facility is built.

The Fieldhome, a non-profit organization, was established in 1879. It's located on the border of Yorktown and Cortlandt on more than 100-acre campus. Some of its services include inter-generational child care, short-term rehabilitation, long-term skilled nursing, assisted living, memory support, respite care and hospice.

The project, which is estimated to cost a total of $90 million, still needs approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection, and a license from the state's health department, Capellini said.

In addition, Yorktown town board members and members of the Recreation Commission would need to discuss the future of a 32-acre portion of the land that includes a soccer field. Officials must decide whether to deed the land to the town, have Fieldhome deed only the future development rights to the town, or put a conservation easement on the land.

According to preliminary figures, the new apartments include an entry fee in the area of $540,000 with an average per month service charge of $3,500 (the lowest being $2,700 to the highest $4,200 based on the apartment's size), Capellini said. Should a resident leave the facility or pass away, a 90 percent return on investment will be paid to the individuals or the estate. 

"It's great to know that there is going to be a facility that will keep our grandparents close to us," Capellini said of the project. "There is a facility that will take you in from the day you can take care of yourself to the days when you no longer can do that for whatever the reasons."

Construction for the project is expected to begin a year or two years from now.