Culpepper Garden staff member Candy Dragity and resident Janice Nichols take the tour of the newly renovated restrooms at Culpepper Garden on April 12. Photo contributed
Culpepper Garden took another step forward on April 12 on its major renovation of 204 low-income apartments built in 1975. Snipped ribbons announced the completion of their newly renovated modern fully ADA accessible restrooms in the public space on the Garden Level of Culpepper Garden.
Arlington Retirement Housing Corporation (ARHC) and Wesley Housing, their redevelopment partner, broke ground on the renovation of Culpepper Garden's original independent wing last April. The renovation would include upgrading of all apartment interiors and public spaces, replacing all major systems and adding six apartments.
By November, nearly 40 apartments had been completed, and by April 2019 the renovation reached 75 apartments. The public restrooms on the lobby level were the first to come back into use in the common space. The current effort is expected to be completed in 2020.
Culpepper Garden is an affordable nonprofit retirement community dedicated to serving low-income seniors aged 62 and older. Residents pay rent based on their individual incomes. The average age of residents in the independent living is 79 and in the assisted center the average age 87. The oldest resident in independent living is 100, and in assisted living, 102.
They opened in 1975 with 204 Independent living apartments that were expanded in 1992 with the addition of 63 one-bedroom apartments. Assisted living was added in 2000 with 73 one-bedroom apartments.
Culpepper Garden will host its annual springtime party on Saturday, June 8 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington to help support the programs and services for the low-income residents.