Developers said no assisted living or memory care would be offered the complex called Viva Bene. Avenue Development representatives told planning commissioners Viva Bene would be “a forward-thinking concept focused on wellness, community and affordability.”
“We are pioneering and redefining what it means to live in senior living,” said Matt Kwapis, ’s senior vice president of development with Avenue Development. “We’ve realized that there really isn’t a senior living option focused on proactively keeping you healthy and proactively keeping you as a productive aging member of your community.”
Kwapis said starting rents would be affordable to nearly 70 percent of senior or 55 and older residents with 5 miles of the planned development.
Benefits to the township from the proposal include the paving of Gorman Road from Ford Road to the site entrance; the installation of both northbound and southbound right-turn signals at Ford and Canton Center to improve traffic flow; a new right-in/right-out driveway on Gorman to ease site traffic and a sidewalk installed along the south side of Ford Road from Gorman to Kroger to enhance pedestrian access.
Commissioners expressed concern regarding the timing of construction at the site which could interfere with the MDOT boulevard project on Ford Road. Developers said the Viva Bene complex would be complete in 2027 and the state project on Ford Road not set to begin until 2028.
After discussion and comments from neighboring residents who were not in favor of the project, commission members approved the preliminary Planned Development District (PDD) which will now go to members of the township board of trustees for consideration.
