Our entire community was so elated when we achieved our rezoning in December of 2024. So many people have reached out with a new enthusiasm and lots of questions! We realized it was time to issue a new set of FAQ’s. This information is accurate as of March 2025 but funding sources, regulatory issues, changes in the economy and prices of materials can change. We aim to update these FAQ’s once each quarter as details change.
What is the current phase in the Village planning?
This first quarter of 2025 has us hyper-focused on evaluating every avenue to fully fund the Village, including government programs, lending, partnerships, and of course philanthropy at all levels. Low-hanging predevelopment activities were planned.
What is the projected budget to build the Village?
The budget fluctuates as the project details develop. A detailed cost estimate was performed with what we know now, and it is estimated that we need at $15 million to have the Village of our dreams.
What will Village look like?
Detailed renderings will arrive any day and we can’t wait to share them!
When is groundbreaking scheduled?
The groundbreaking continues to be a moving target. This is due in large part to not determining funding resources. The various avenues of funding will each impact the project differently. If funding and regulatory burdens were not an issue, we plan to have a ceremonial groundbreaking on Veterans Day 2025 with a true groundbreaking following in the first quarter of 2026.
After groundbreaking, how long will it take to complete the Village?
With our design purposely simple and small, we expect construction to move quickly, but a set timeline has not been determined.
What can veterans expect to pay each month to live in the Village?
There are too many moving pieces to determine exact rents at this time. We plan to have rent based on the veterans income. Everyone should take comfort that we were required to proffer (guarantee) affordability for the life of the project.
Who is eligible to live in the Village?
Veterans aged 65 or older will be eligible to apply to live in the Village. This requirement is written into the zoning and cannot be changed. Funding sources may impose additional restrictions on eligibility, especially related to specific income levels of applying veterans. The FAQs will be updated with any further restrictions. Per town directive, each cottage can only have one occupant.
Is there a waitlist for me to put my veteran’s name on?
Yes, to help demonstrate the need for the Village during the rezoning process, we began to assess the veterans in our network and build a waitlist. Eligible veterans may be added to the list with the understanding that move-in day may be as many as three years from today. Preference will be given to .
What level of care will be provided to veterans who live in the Village?
The Village will be an independent senior living community. All residents will be required to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) and navigate pathways to safety. ADLs, as defined by the National Institutes of Health, are fundamental skills required to independently care for oneself, such as eating, bathing, and mobility. Exceptions will be considered for veterans who are not independent but have adequate caregiving arrangements.
What happens when a Village veteran experiences a health decline?
This is an anticipated outcome for every Village resident. Hero’s Bridge helps with this frequently and has developed strong collaborations with providers in the senior living space. We are confident that we will continue to help veterans, and their families, find the appropriate level of care when the time comes.
What will the Community Center be used for?
The first floor of the Community Center will have a movie viewing area, maker’s space, a music area, fitness room and a senior friendly technology library…just to name a few features. The upper floor will house Hero’s Bridge staff so we can provide all the same services and supports that our veterans in the community receive.
What contractors are you choosing?
We receive many calls about who will be performing what work during construction. We are not ready to select contractors and vendors yet. We recommend everyone sign up for our newsletter and updates to stay informed as we move through the phases.
How can I help right now?
The single most important goal in the first half of 2025 is fundraising. The more money we raise privately, the more we can adhere to the vision of deeply affordable rents and no red tape. We are creating donorship opportunities for all budgets ranging from $100 to $2.5 million dollars. Your family, business, or civic organization’s name will be displayed in the Village based on sponsorship size. More detailed information about these opportunities will be made available soon. Please subscribe to our newsletter and Village updates to stay informed as we move through the process. You can donate to the Village here.