Artis Senior Living breaks ground on first midstate facility

Va.-based firm expects memory care community in Lemoyne to open in early 2018

By Jason Scott, November 1, 2016 at 3:00 AM

A Virginia-based operator of memory care communities expects to open its first midstate facility in early 2018 as part of an East Coast expansion effort.

Artis Senior Living LLC recently broke ground on a 64-suite community in Lemoyne that it is calling Artis Senior Living of West Shore.

The single-story, 30,500-square-foot building being erected at 150 N. 12th St. will serve senior citizens affected by Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

The community will feature four wings, or neighborhoods, of 16 resident rooms, as well as a pantry, dining room and a family room. To help residents distinguish between neighborhoods, each section is designed with unique colors, lights, furniture and other architectural details.

The neighborhoods will be connected to a central core, or town center, that will feature a community gathering area, studio for activities, health center and a beauty salon and barber shop.

The West Shore facility will be the company's third in Pennsylvania, with communities currently under construction near Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Artis has five communities in operation, nine under construction and another 15 in development, said Angelina Rotella, the company's development manager. The projects are spread across several states, including Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Virginia.

Cost of the local construction project was not disclosed. Lancaster-based Wohlsen Construction Co. is the general contractor. LK Architecture, based in Kansas, is the architect.

Greg Rothman, president of RSR Realtors LLC, helped Artis find land for the Lemoyne building. The property is about a block away from Market Street.