GLOUCESTER – Shortly after Daffodil Gardens opened in Gloucester in November 2001, it was clear another senior living facility in the area was needed.
“We knew pretty quickly,” said Josh Gemerek, the senior vice president of housing for Bay Housing, which manages the facility. “That phase filled up in a couple months and has remained fully occupied.”
It took more than 20 years, for a variety of reasons, but Daffodil Gardens II finally opened at 5899 Fiddlers Green Rd. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held June 15.
“Here we are 22 years later,” said Gemerek, who has been with the company since 1999.
Daffodil Gardens II consists of 40 units, 28 of which have two bedrooms and the other 12 have one bedroom. The one-bedroom units are approximately 650 square feet, and the two-bedrooms range from 900 to 1,000 square feet.
The units were leased in just six weeks, according to Gemerek, and there were 65 people on the waiting list as of last week.
“We have twelve properties in the region, and this is the fastest one to ever rent out,” he said, adding the industry standard is about six months.
The facility, which offers independent senior living for those 55 and older, is a three-story building with an elevator. Amenities include a community room, a kitchen, and an activity space. Also available are supportive services, including Bay Transit, Meals on Wheels, and home care.
“It’s tailored to individuals,” Gemerek said. “We will have some residents living there that are completely independent, no need for services.”
In April 2008, about six and a half years after Daffodil Gardens opened, an additional 14 acres were acquired by Bay Housing for the second phase. That included the purchase of a home, which has been renovated and is used for adult daycare. It then took almost another ten years to secure funding for Daffodil Gardens II.
“We were applying for funding and were unsuccessful a few times,” Gemerek said. “It’s very competitive. It wasn’t until 2017 that we were successful securing a funding award that really got us to that point.”
Other grants filled in the gaps, and construction started shortly afterward.
Daffodil Gardens, which is for those 62 and older, has 64 units and its waiting list is close to 250. Bay Housing, which is a division of Bay Aging, owns additional property adjacent to the current buildings. Another phase could be on the way.
“We’d love to create more in Gloucester,” Gemerek said.
For more information, visit www.bayaging.org.
