Aviv Officially Breaks Ground on New Health Center

Construction on the received its official blessing on Friday in front of a crowd of supporters inside the complex off Lynnfield Street.

The new $35 million state-of-the-art health center will add four more stories of quality care to the campus, as Aviv Centers for Living consolidates its operations in Peabody and from Swampscott to Lynnfield Street. Aviv says the new center will “revolutionize” senior care on the North Shore.

Aviv President and CEO Stephen Neff touched on that last point in his remarks on Friday morning. Neff noted that nursing care for seniors has evolved in leaps and bounds in the past few decades, while average lifetime expectancy has similarly added another 30 years or so.

“Aviv will be ready to face new medical [challenges] discovered on aging,” Neff said, praising the rest of the internal leadership team and all contributors to the project for a job well done thus far.

Andrew Katz, chairman of the board for Aviv, characterized the project as an important step into the future for the organization, symbolizing its commitment to high-quality care for at least the next several decades to come.

“I hope you come along and join us for the ride because great things are yet to come,” said Katz.

Neff also noted that Aviv extensively surveyed both its client pool and others before ultimately deciding to build the new center. He said the project is being financed by a $50 million bond deal, which will cover all of the Aviv’s debt, not just on the project itself.

The Waldfogel Center is slated to open in the fall of 2012 with 144 beds and 108 private rooms. The first floor will house an early learning center, Alzheimer’s and memory care and the Jewish Historical Society, while sub-acute care will be offered on the second floor, post-acute services (orthopedic, cardiac, pulmonary disease rehab) on the third floor and highly advanced skilled nursing services on the fourth floor.

Plans also include an adult learning center, gym space, dining options and more in a neighborly atmosphere. Homecare will still be provided, along with transportation to and from campus and expanded parking. At some point in the future, Aviv looks to add a third building to the campus.

Mayor Michael Bonfanti, a guest speaker on Friday, said the development is certainly great economic news for the city – it’s also slated to create 250 new jobs, but what has impressed him most about Aviv is its leadership, both on this project and in recent years.

“The new center balances what you have here perfectly,” Bonfanti said, adding his praise for staff at Woodbridge for providing kind and compassionate care to its elderly residents. He felt that level of care was also cultivated by the organization treating its employees well.

“I absolutely believe a society is judged by how it treats its seniors and children,” Bonfanti said.

The center is named for benefactors Peter and Jane Waldfogel, who contributed $1 million to Aviv in honor of their parents, Morton and Lillian, who received care from Aviv.

The last speaker for the morning was Rabbi Baruch HaLevi of Congregation Shirat Hayam in Swampscott. HaLevi said the new center embodies the core meaning of the word Aviv, growing from a new opportunity, and will be inspirational to all who seek to care for seniors.

“God dwells within the community and that’s what Aviv is all about,” he said. “When we treat them [elderly patients] well with honor and dignity…then God’s presence is within us.”

State reps. Joyce Spiliotis (D-Peabody) and Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead) were also present for the ceremony.