Community at a Glance

Project Scope

Redevelopment, Expansion

Type

Life Plan Community

Unit Mix Before Redevelopment

Independent living: 326
Skilled nursing: 55
Assisted living: 22
Skilled nursing/memory care: 30

Unit Mix After Redevelopment

Independent living: 409
Skilled nursing: 55
Assisted living: 36
Memory care: 38
Skilled nursing rehab: 30

Challenges

• Provide additional units for a growing senior population in Austin, Texas.
• Decrease the number of seniors on waitlists for a Westminster unit.
• Entitlements were difficult with zoning and rezoning as well as neighborhood approvals.
• The only available spot to build on was an existing parking lot, which would leave residents with no parking option.
  

Positive Outcomes

• Expanded campus to include an additional 61 independent living apartments, 36 assisted living units and 38 memory care units.
• Constructed an off-site parking lot by partnering with a state facility, adding 200 parking spaces for the community.
• Secured reservations for many units in the expansion before pricing was set and before construction began.
• Supported market need with reworked unit mix.

Amenities

Together with Westminster, LCS Development built an additional building to increase the number of available units and enhance amenities for residents. The community, located in the growing city of Austin, Texas, offers gyms, a cardio studio, dog park, under-building parking, a day spa with massage services, a nurse practitioners’ clinic, and multiple dining options including a healthy options café.

Business Profile

Westminster is located on a nearly 16-acre campus just north of downtown Austin, Texas. This Life Plan Community was the first of its kind in Texas, and was developed to bring new spaces and amenities to the growing city of Austin.

In 2016, Westminster commissioned a market study to analyze the Austin area’s senior living needs over the next 25+ years. Westminster then partnered with LCS Development to create a multi-phased plan for enhancing and expanding the current campus to meet the demands of the Austin market.

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Business Situation

Following a master planning project in partnership with LCS Development, a multi-phase plan was created. Phase I of the plan focused on a large expansion including a $115 million, five-story tower with 133 residential units, enhanced health and wellness services, and 300 underground parking spots. 

Westminster historically had a waiting list of 130 to 145 future residents for its independent living apartment homes. Adding an additional 61 independent living units and repurposing existing assisted living units helped to meet the demand for senior living in the Austin area. Many of the apartment homes in the expansion were reserved before pricing was set and the building was constructed. 

With wellness a top priority, Westminster sought to expand their health and wellness offering. In Phase I, walking trails, a dog park and a café featuring healthy, on-the-go dining options were added. 

During the master planning process and in partnership with Westminster, the LCS Development team discovered a need for an additional five-story building to support the community’s long-term plan. The building, named The Carlisle, required 6.7 acres of land to construct. Because the community is landlocked and unable to acquire adjacent real estate, the LCS Development team devised a plan to develop the new building in the space which held a parking lot. Realizing the removal of the parking lot would result in the loss of parking for hundreds of residents, the team partnered with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to build a 200-space parking lot off-site and within close proximity to the community during construction, and then turned it back over to the state to utilize.

Partnering with Leaders who Listen

The more complex the project, the more important it is to listen to the unique needs of residents, community leaders and board members. LCS Development brings senior living experience unlike any others to master planning, development and redevelopment projects. But what really sets LCS Development apart is the team’s approach to lead by listening to key stakeholders throughout the process. By collaborating with LCS Development for both the master plan and the development project, Westminster overcame obstacles resulting in a better resident experience and long-term sustainability for the community. When partnering with LCS Development, an exceptional experience results from our leaders listening.

To reach out to the LCS Development team or learn more about our projects, visit lcsnet.com/development-services.