Germantown senior housing-complex hosts ceremonial grand opening

Elected officials joined residents and staff at the Apartments at Cliveden in Germantown to celebrate the senior housing complex’s ceremonial grand opening on Monday.

NewCourtland, a non-profit specializing in senior-living options, opened the five-story, 62-unit building in August. The West Johnson Street site is meant to offer the community an affordable option to a traditional nursing home. It’s the kind of option Mayor Michael Nutter said the city needs.

“Today’s activity, and this exciting announcement, is helping to get us one step closer to being that age-friendly city that Philadelphia is striving to become,” said Nutter to the packed community room.

Nutter said that goal is particularly important considering that Philadelphia, by proportion, leads all major cities in the number residents older than 60.

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D–Phila.) said the multi-million dollar project, which is located in his district, will be a visible reminder of how federal stimulus dollars were spent in the state.

“When people say that with the federal stimulus dollars, they didn’t see what happened. Well, this is one of the projects,” said Fattah.

Those monies accounted for about $4.5 million of the building’s $14.6 million pricetag. The rest was covered by private and public partners including the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, PNC Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh and NewCourtland.

Sitting with her husband Daniel, Chiquita Bouzy said the couple had kept an eye on the complex since construction started. They applied as soon as they could and were pleased with the facilities once they were accepted.

“We finally came to see it and it took our breath away,” said Bouzy, who raved about the building’s large windows, natural light and security services.

She said the couple had offers from other senior-living complexes, but her husband insisted on staying in Germantown, and in one of the 50 single-bedroom units already filled.

“He likes the atmosphere,” she said.