It’s clear to all who visit downtown Franklin that there is a major project in the works at Peabody Home. The original home, the “mansion on Central Street,” was constructed in 1941 and opened in October of the following year. Over time, upgrades and additions kept pace with changing eldercare standards, the last being in 2001.
The 80-year-old building that has been a beloved residence for many community members is being transformed into a larger, modern retirement community that will include assisted living, independent living, and memory care. Such a transformation warrants re-naming to reflect the expanded services and amenities soon to be available. “Peabody Place” will epitomize a renewed culture that will offer more options for seniors in an inviting setting that promotes support of the mind, body, and spirit, ultimately increasing quality of life.
“Our home for residential care for more than 80 years is becoming the place for expanded residential care and independent living in a new, state-of-the-art retirement community. With construction underway and the fact that we are taking reservations for those interested in becoming residents in our new retirement community, we wanted to unveil the name and logo now to help us showcase the vision for Peabody Place,” said Executive Director Howard Chandler.
Construction of the new 63,632 square foot Peabody Place is being done in two primary phases. Phase One of the project – building a brand-new assisted living and memory care center – is well underway and is scheduled to be completed in late 2021. Once open, current residents will move into the newly built Peabody Place. A priority waitlist has been created for individuals who want to reserve a space now.
After Phase One is completed and residents move into the new space, the original building will be demolished and new independent living apartments will be built on that location. Both phases will be integrated into a single three-story building that features a granite and brick façade, large manor windows, and will include a 24-hour emergency response system, personal transportation services, a beauty and barber shop, and an exercise and wellness room – all within easy access to downtown Franklin. Phase Two is expected to be completed in late 2022 and will also host well-appointed common areas including a bistro, media room, and library.
Once completed, Peabody Place will more than double capacity from the current 37 residents and will include 13 memory care apartments, 45 assisted living apartments, and 16 independent living apartments. It will feature more common space and take advantage of its unique views of the Winnipesaukee River, which bends around a point where the facility is located.
“We’re very excited about the future of Peabody Place and are developing some unique plans for the facility including using more locally sourced food in our dining areas, emphasizing that we are not just pet-friendly, but pet-welcoming, and determining how best to use the adjacent Proctor Point property for the enjoyment of our residents and their families. We’ll be launching a new website shortly that will help showcase this vision,” Chandler said.
Funding totaling $26 million for the project was approved through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development’s Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program in November, 2020 and construction began a month later. The building was designed by EGA P.C. Engelberth Construction is building the facility, and the engineering work is being conducted by Nobis Engineering. Advisory work is being provided by RS Consulting and Northern Community Investment Corporation. For more information, contact Admissions Director Marylee Gorham at 934-3718 or MGorham@nullPeabodyHome.org.