Plans for assisted living, nursing care and expanded wellness services move forward at Gathering Place, with construction potentially beginning in spring 2027.
Western Home Communities is accelerating plans to bring a full continuum of care to Iowa City, marking a significant milestone in the development of Gathering Place, its newest retirement living community.
The nonprofit senior living organization is moving forward with plans for assisted living, memory care and nursing services, bringing its established approach to wellness-focused living and personalized care to the Iowa City area.
At the same time, construction and sales of active living homes continue, and reservations are being accepted for The Lodge, Gathering Place's first condominium building.
"We are absolutely committed and understand how important it is to have those aspects on this campus," said Pat O'Leary, chief financial and strategy officer for Western Home Communities.
A Clear Commitment to a Full Continuum of Care
From the beginning, Western Home Communities envisioned Gathering Place as a community where residents could enjoy active living while having access to additional levels of care as their needs change.
Until recently, a statewide moratorium limited the organization's ability to publicly discuss and advance plans for nursing care. That has changed.
Western Home Communities has received a letter of commitment from the State of Iowa allowing the nursing care project to move forward in the review and development process.
The organization has engaged an architect and begun discussions with the City of Iowa City regarding the site, building design and necessary approvals. Preliminary drawings are progressing, and leadership is working closely with its construction partners to advance the project.
The acceleration reflects both the organization's long-term commitment and feedback from residents and prospective buyers who have emphasized the importance of knowing when additional care will be available.
Angela Evans, chief marketing and sales officer, explained that the original plan was to construct the first condominium building before beginning assisted living and nursing care development. However, feedback from residents and prospective buyers prompted leadership to reconsider that sequence.
"But we're listening. We're hearing what the community is telling us," Evans said.
The revised approach accelerates plans for assisted living and nursing care, with the goal of beginning construction of those facilities and the first condominium building at approximately the same time.
What Is Planned for Gathering Place?
Current plans call for a multilevel building that brings expanded wellness services together with assisted living and nursing care.
The proposed design includes:
20 nursing care accommodations, designed around Western Home Communities' smaller, residential-style household model.
32 assisted living apartments across two floors, with one- and two-bedroom options planned.
Thrivera wellness and therapy services, including an indoor pool, fitness facilities and physical therapy.
Dedicated dining and kitchen spaces designed to support fresh meal preparation and a more personal living environment.
Memory care is also part of the planned continuum, with details of its future services and accommodations continuing to develop.
According to O'Leary, the design and initial approval process could position construction to begin as early as May or June 2027, if everything proceeds as anticipated. Construction is expected to take approximately 18 months, potentially bringing completion in fall 2028.
Those projections remain dependent on final design, regulatory and municipal approvals, construction costs and other development considerations.
"We're committed and we're working very hard to get that in the ground as quickly as possible," O'Leary said.
Bringing Western Home's Established Care Model to Iowa City
For more than a century, Western Home Communities has served older adults in Iowa, developing an approach that emphasizes independence, quality of life and personalized support.
At an October 21 executive update, Western Home clinical leaders shared how that experience will shape the next phase of Gathering Place.
Wendy Ager, chief clinical officer, and Tabitha Tjaden, a Western Home nursing home administrator, described the organization's household model of care, which replaces large, institutional-style nursing units with smaller, more personal environments.
Residents benefit from private rooms, consistent caregivers, residential-style kitchens and care teams that get to know individuals and their families.
The proposed Iowa City nursing accommodations will build on those same principles, incorporating design features developed and refined through Western Home's existing communities.
Just as important is the organization's approach to helping residents remain independent.
Western Home Communities prioritizes supporting residents in their own homes as their needs change, using wellness coaching, therapy, home-based care and personalized services whenever appropriate.
Ager shared that Western Home Communities has reduced the percentage of residents requiring long-term nursing care from approximately 20% to just 8–10%, reflecting the organization's emphasis on helping residents remain safely in their homes longer.
O'Leary reinforced that approach with another notable statistic: Of approximately 2,300 independent living residences developed by Western Home Communities, only one resident required a move to assisted living or nursing care within the first five years.
While these results demonstrate the effectiveness of Western Home's wellness-focused approach, leadership emphasized that having assisted living and nursing care available remains an essential part of the community's long-term vision.
The goal is to help residents maintain their independence and quality of life for as long as possible, with additional levels of care available when needed.
Condominium Presales Are Underway
The accelerated plans for assisted living and nursing care also bring new momentum to The Lodge, Gathering Place's first condominium building.
The Lodge is now in presales, offering prospective residents an opportunity to reserve one of 16 planned condominium residences before construction begins.
Western Home Communities is working toward the 75% presale commitment required by its lenders and state requirements to begin construction.
Leadership hopes to advance construction of The Lodge alongside the new assisted living, nursing and wellness building, allowing residents to benefit from additional campus amenities as the community grows.
Meanwhile, construction of active living homes and villas is progressing, with additional residences expected to take shape across the campus in the coming months.
Building Confidence in What's Ahead
For prospective residents considering a move to Gathering Place, one question has been especially important: When will assisted living and nursing care become a reality?
Western Home Communities recognizes that confidence comes from visible progress.
The state's letter of commitment, ongoing architectural work, preliminary building plans and discussions with Iowa City represent tangible steps toward fulfilling the community's original vision.
Those steps also reinforce the organization's broader commitment to Iowa City, bringing more than a century of senior living experience and a proven model of care to a growing community.
"We will take care of you," Western Home Communities CEO Kris Hansen told those attending the executive update, reinforcing the organization's commitment to residents as Gathering Place continues to develop.
With active living residences taking shape, condominium presales underway and plans for assisted living and nursing care advancing, Gathering Place is entering an important new chapter.
Discover your future at Gathering Place. Explore available homes, learn about condominium presales at The Lodge and see how Western Home Communities is bringing a full continuum of care to Iowa City.
Contact our Gathering Place team to learn more.
