New housing is coming to La Grande for those age 55 and older. Elevation Pointe, to be constructed on the 400 block of 16th Street, will be a community of 21 condominiums and eight single-family homes. Infrastructure work on the site began six months ago, and construction of the dwellings is planned to begin in October, according to a press release.

GCT Land Management is in charge of the project and owner Gust Tsiatsos is the general contractor. Tsiatsos said the active adult community will fill a residential housing gap in the region.

“You can see it in the statistics,” Tsiatsos said. “Elevation Pointe will take pressure off the housing market at a certain price point, and offer an attractive housing option appealing to seniors’ lifestyles and tastes.”

Elevation Pointe is 

described in the press release as “reasonably priced upscale living accommodations.” The eight single-family homes feature step-free access with single and split-level floor plans. The houses will range from approximately 1,894 square feet to almost 2,180 square feet and feature two or three bedrooms, at least two bathrooms and two- or three-car garages. Prices will begin in the low $300,000s.

The single-family homes are being constructed in a terrace style, with houses slightly elevated above each other as they go up the gentle slope. This is where the complex got the name Elevation Pointe, according to Tsiatsos.

The condominiums will be clustered together at the top slope of the property for better views. They will be approximately 1,331 square feet, have gated backyards, patios and partially enclosed carports. There are multiple two-story floor plans with the master bedroom on the first or second floor. These units start below $200,000 and there is an option to lease. There will be some additional parking located at the end of the blocks as well as limited off-street parking.

The community will have a fence around the perimeter and possibly a security gate at the entrance. Marketing manager Terri Bradley said the gate may provide an added sense of safety that is appealing to many, but Tsiatsos said there is some concern it would cause an unwanted assumption of exclusivity.

However, the company is hoping to create a sense of togetherness within the development.

“People want to be surrounded by those with a similar lifestyle,” Tsiatsos said.

To achieve this, Elevation Pointe will include a clubhouse for gatherings, a walking loop, a community garden, benches and multi-use lawns. Being a complex limited to those older than 55, neighbors will have the opportunity to connect with people who are around their age.

When developing the plans for Elevation Pointe, Tsiatsos looked to the current older adults in the local community to learn what they would like. Many said they wanted the option to downsize without having to move out of La Grande. Tsiatsos believes this development will allow people to do that.

“People want to downsize without compromising,” Bradley added. “We want to create a place where people will be proud to live, while promoting the choice of an active lifestyle.”

When older citizens move into the new complex, Tsiatsos and Bradley pointed out, younger residents will have the opportunity to find housing in the homes the senior citizens left.

“Creating new housing takes pressure off of every demographic,” Tsiatsos said.

The construction Planning for the project began over a year ago, with the construction of roads, sidewalks and utilities starting around March, Tsiatsos said. Currently six to eight workers are on site almost daily building the neighborhood. According to Tsiatsos, the Public Works Department has been very helpful in the planning process by providing maps and guidance for placing utilities like water, sewer and electricity lines. Once the project is completed, the city will take over the utilities in the instance of repairs and maintenance. Roads and landscaping will be maintained by homeowners association fees. This, Bradley said, will keep the community low maintenance for the residents living there. Tsiatsos plans to have the infrastructure in place by the end of the year, and then it will be four years until the houses and condos are move-in ready.

“It’s a five-year project,” Tsiatsos said.