A developer is proposing a three story, 117 unit independent senior apartment community on Voorhees Drive, on vacant land in front of the SpringHill Suites hotel.
The project already received a use variance in 2024 and is scheduled to return to the Voorhees Zoning Board in December for preliminary and final major site plan approval.
This project caught my attention for a very specific reason.
I speak with longtime homeowners who would consider downsizing but don't necessarily want to leave South Jersey.
They may love Voorhees, Cherry Hill, Mount Laurel or Marlton.
Their children and grandchildren are nearby.
Their doctors are here.
Their friends are here.
They know the restaurants and stores.
They simply don't need a four bedroom house anymore.
The problem is:
Where do they go?
Not everyone wants a 55+ community.
Not everyone wants another house.
And independent senior housing can fill an important space between remaining in a large longtime home and eventually needing assisted living.
Voorhees is seeing several housing proposals around this area, including the approved conversion of Four Echelon Plaza into 178 apartments and another approved 60 unit affordable apartment project nearby.
That additional housing could eventually give residents more choices.
And choice matters.
Sometimes the reason an older homeowner doesn't sell isn't because they love maintaining the big house.
It's because they haven't found someplace they'd rather go.
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