The Gallery at North Port

Project Summary

NexCore’s senior living entity, Experience Senior Living Development (ESLD), wanted to expand its senior living portfolio and identified North Port as an underserved market that met investment criteria. The best site was 17-acres of a 30-acre master plan that the seller was unwilling to divide, adjacent to the city center. The City of North Port requires developers to invest in public art by installing art in public view or, as most do, contributing cash-in-lieu to satisfy the obligation.

ESLD invested in a project including 28 cottage units, a 79-unit Independent Living building connected by amenity space to a 66-unit Assisted Living including a 24-bed memory care wing. The site has the ability to expand to a total of 48 cottages once the community stabilizes. ESLD’s focus group research indicated this wide range of acuity levels in a no-entry fee community would appeal to prospective residents and their families.
 
ESLD also invested in public art, exceeding city requirements. This investment became the community theme, thus giving it the name of The Gallery at North Port. ELSD commissioned a local artist to create large sculptures depicting a monarch butterfly, bird of paradise, conch shell, azalea, and corkscrew snail that reach as high as 12 feet. Walking paths through the sculpture garden are designed to attract residents and visitors, creating a landmark feature, and increasing the interaction of the senior living community with the greater North Port community.

ESLD is receiving regional press given its commitment to featuring local artists and ensuring the community benefits from the city-mandated public art. 

The Gallery at North Port broke ground in January 2020 and anticipates its first residents will move in during January 2022.