Ingleside at Rock Creek, soon to be the site of a three- to five-year expansion project. (photo by Tom Oliver, courtesy of Northwest Neighbors Village)
President, Northwest Neighbors Village
With the senior population in Wards 3 and 4 growing substantially, Ingleside at Rock Creek, a continuing care retirement community on Military Road, is undertaking a major expansion.
Current plans call for an increased number of independent living units, 32 new assisted living memory care units, and an expanded health care facility that might benefit Northwest Neighbors Village members.
These additions will be housed in two new buildings (an eight-story and a 10-story) that will be linked by a new Center for Healthy Living. The center will offer programs for fitness, brain wellness, cultural arts and activities. The project includes a substantial increase in underground parking.
Specific plans have yet to be finalized but are expected to be ready to present to the Board of Zoning Adjustment for the required authorizations in September. The project could take three to five years to complete and will be undertaken in three phases.
The first phase will be construction of the two new buildings. Phase two would see the demolition of the existing assisted living center and construction of a new facility to house memory care and skilled nursing care units. The last phase would entail replacement of the old health care building with a new and expanded health care center.
Executive Director Ann Schiff said Ingleside is considering bringing other medical specialists into the health care facility periodically and may give access to nonresidents, such as NNV members, to these physicians. Ingleside already offers short-term rehabilitation in the nursing home for non-Ingleside residents.
Since announcing its expansion plans, Ingleside has participated in a series of meetings, some hosted by ANC 3/4G and Commissioner Randy Speck, to get input from the community. The initial plans drew strong criticism from neighbors who opposed a proposed curb cut and service driveway on Military Road at 30th Place and who raised traffic and safety concerns. As a result of this opposition, Ingleside revised its plans by eliminating the proposed driveway and redesigning its loading dock area, at additional cost.
This parking lot is tentatively scheduled to give way to an eight-story and a 10-story residence facility and a Center for Healthy Living under Ingleside’s expansion plans. Much of the green space to the right would be retained. (photo by Janean Mann, courtesy of Northwest Neighbors Village)
Other neighbors have expressed concern about the long construction time and the likelihood that construction vehicles will add to traffic problems on Military Road and on nearby streets. At a July 23 special ANC meeting, architect Gary Steiner said Ingleside has just selected a construction manager who will study the construction plans and will propose steps to mitigate traffic impact. He noted that much of the traffic going to the new independent living apartments will enter through Broad Branch Road rather than Military Road.
Addressing several concerns over environmental issues, Steiner said Ingleside would maintain the existing berm and plant additional trees to reduce the view of the new buildings from the street and that material removed from the demolished facilities will be recycled.
Another community meeting is planned for August.
Originally published in the Northwest Neighbors Village’s August/September newsletter, this article has been reproduced here with NNV’s permission.
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