Two Johnson County developers are making plans for a $70 million retirement community in northwest Lawrence.

Charles Bryant and Lawrence Levy own property at the northwestern corner of Sixth Street and Congressional Drive, where they plan to build a complex that calls for residences and other features geared for elderly adults and continues to provide shelter and services as they age.

Plans for the site include:

¢ 128 independent-living units, including single-family homes, duplexes and condominiums for active seniors.

¢ 92 one- and two-bedroom units for independent living.

¢ 46 one- and two-bedroom units dedicated for assisted-living services.

¢ 24 units in the memory section, intended for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia.

¢ Several dining rooms, a swimming pool, exercise facility, underground parking and other features.

The goal, Levy said, is to include high-end finishes, services and designs to attract aging baby boomers, who continue to demand the finest amenities as they head into an active retirement.

“This is being built for the future,” Levy said. “If it works today, it will be modern and new 15 to 20 years from now.”

He said that Lawrence was a logical choice for such a project, given the community’s growing popularity as a retirement destination. Levy cited studies and ratings that consistently place Lawrence among the most popular places for people to spend their golden years, with Kansas University and other cultural amenities and services both available and desirable.

The project has been in the works for months, and the current schedule calls for construction to begin in four to eight months. By the time it’s complete, he said, the property’s total valuation should be in the neighborhood of $70 million.

“This facility will not only serve the city of Lawrence, but we hope that our geographical draw also will be the outreaches – central and western Kansas and so forth,” he said. “It’s bringing people to a university community. : We hope that we draw from a diverse market, and diverse people.”