The pilot project will be located on a
three-acre parcel in Tewksbury,
MA.
ANDOVER,
Mass., Jan. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Melmark, a
national leader in the human services field, announced it will
break ground in early 2025 on the development of an intentional
adult planned community on a three acre site in Tewksbury. The project will address an
ever-growing need in the state of Massachusetts for adult services that are
evidence-based and instructional for individuals with autism,
intellectual, and developmental disabilities. Melmark is creating
an innovative new adult services model based on the premise of
continuing care retirement communities popular in elder
services.
The pilot project will cost an estimated $15 million to complete. Melmark collaborated
with the Caveney Architectural Collaborative on the design, which
will include four residences housing 20 adults, an instructional
and vocational day program for 50+ individuals, a vocational coffee
shop social enterprise, daily living activities, supports,
community engagement, recreational opportunities, and affordable
staff housing. Vantage Builders will manage the construction of the
three-acre site over the projected two-year timeline to complete
the project. Massachusetts-based
law firm Dalton & Finegold is representing Melmark for all
legal matters pertaining to this project.
"When we look at the individuals we serve who are turning 22,
there's a significant cliff and drop-off in terms of financial
resources as well as the number of providers who will serve
individuals with profound or severe challenging behaviors and what
we're seeing increasingly is that individuals who have these needs
are not able to get access to those services once they turn 22,"
stated Melmark President and CEO Rita M.
Gardner, M.P.H., LABA, BCBA, CDE®. "Our goal is to develop
an infrastructure and model that is campus-based and rooted in full
community integration and resource-sharing, which will allow
individuals to age in place through their whole lifespan with
access to centralized medical services, retail, public
transportation, banking opportunities, etc. with opportunities for
continued best outcomes."
The model will offer staffing efficiencies in light of the
national human services workforce crisis and will provide
comprehensive public policy guidelines which can be replicated by
other human service providers. To learn more about the pilot
project, visit:
www.melmark.org/planned-tewksbury-adult-community/
About Melmark
Melmark is a multi-state non-profit human service
organization providing clinically sophisticated evidence-based
special education, residential, vocational and therapeutic services
for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders,
developmental and intellectual disabilities, acquired brain
injuries and other neurological and genetic disorders. All
specialized special education services are based on the principles
of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and are designed based on each
student's individual needs.
Recognized as one of the leading providers in the country,
Melmark has a combined staff of over 1,200 at its service divisions
in Pennsylvania, New England, and
the Carolinas and serves 700 individuals from across the country.
www.melmark.org.
About Caveney Architectural Collaborative
Based in
Lowell, MA, Caveney Architectural
Collaborative (CAC) is an architectural design firm focused on
creating spaces that address the unique needs of its clients.
https://www.caveneyarch.com/
About Dalton & Finegold LLP
Dalton & Finegold LLP is a Massachusetts-based law firm specializing in
real estate law, estate planning, and litigation. Dalton &
Finegold is particularly renowned for its expertise in commercial
and residential real estate transactions, assisting buyers,
sellers, developers, and lenders with precision and care.
www.DFLLP.com
About Vantage Builders, Inc.
Vantage Builders is a full-service commercial contractor
specializing in pre-construction, construction management and
design-build services. The firm serves corporations, small
businesses, building owners, developers, property managers,
entrepreneurs and institutions. www.vb-inc.com
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SOURCE Melmark
