Mercy Cedar Rapids Announces Senior Living Community & More

Mercy Cedar Rapids today announced a major partnership with a national leader in housing and services for older adults, Presbyterian Homes & Services. Mercy unveiled plans for a new senior living and care community, which will be known as HallMar Village, in northeast Cedar Rapids.

In the media release, Mercy announced the two organizations had teamed to purchase 42-acres of land that will incorporate the building and grounds of the current Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, which is located at 9000 C Avenue in Marion. Mercy says the complex will be built "in northeast Cedar Rapids, east of the C Ave. Extension and northeast of Robins Road." It will replace the Mercy Hallmar residential care facility, which opened 60 years ago.

HallMar Village is described as "an advanced, medically integrated community — including innovative, specialized care for those living with dementia — and provide healthy living unlike other options available today. This new senior living community will provide a full range of housing and services for the rapidly growing population of older adults in the region."

The new complex will also have independent living, residential apartments, a town center that will include a community room, chapel, a wellness center, theater, salon/spa, restaurant-style dining, and a conservatory with plants. Outdoor plans call for areas for gardening, walking trails, and patios.

Plans also call for an Innovation Center for Aging and Dementia. That will be inside what is now Echo Hill Presbyterian Church and will provide services in support of people with dementia, as well as their families, and care partners. Echo Hill Presbyterian Church has already announced they're moving to the Calvin-Sinclair Building at 715 38th St. NE.

Here is what the Innovation Center for Aging and Dementia is expected to include:

• Mercy Memory Clinic. Now at the hospital, it will move to the new location for those living at the village and to better serve the entire community.
• A dedicated clinic by a geriatric provider for continuing care for residents. In-home visits of residents will also be possible if needed.
• A day center tailored for early-stage dementia.
• Living classroom for a variety of caregivers to learn how to better help those living in the facility.

The outreach team of the Family Caregivers Center of Mercy will offer resources as they do now at their location in the Mercy Campus near downtown Cedar Rapids.

Senior Housing Partners, the development arm of Presbyterian Homes & Services, will develop the project with construction slated to begin in the spring of 2021. Completion is expected in the fall of 2022.