Mr. Rogers used to sing, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” Taylorsville residents will soon be answering “yes” to many new neighbors in the area north of 6200 South between 3200 West and Bangerter Highway. Baltimore-based Erickson Enterprises Inc. is purchasing this former gravel pit parcel from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and plans to build a new kind of active senior retirement community.

Make no mistake: this is not your grandma’s nursing home! Erickson has an exciting, proven concept for retirement communities that are vastly different from any others in this part of the country. John Erickson, Founder of Erickson Living, has built 18 beautiful retirement communities operating in 10 different states: Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. Taylorsville will be home to their first community in Utah, and his first community west of the Rockies.

Imagine living in a gated community where you can have your own car with you or use their conveniently-scheduled transportation, where you can eat chef-prepared meals at in-house restaurants that will accommodate special dietary needs, where your grandchildren can visit and your small pet can live with you, where 24-hour medical and emergency services are provided on site, where a hair salon and barber shop, a fitness center, an all-season pool, a convenience store, a computer lab, a hobby shop, game rooms, dance and aerobics, and other amenities are provided on-site and as part of the monthly fee! One- and two- bedroom units are offered in a total service environment.

Owner John Erickson stated: “I have been searching the entire US for our next location and found an ideal location in Taylorsville.  Our community meets the needs of the aging Utah population and we are excited to offer our product and program to the residents of Utah.  No longer will children and grandchildren need to drive for hours for an infrequent visit with Grandpa and Grandma in southern Utah.  Now they can frequently visit parents and grandparents within a few minute drive.”

Erickson Enterprises Inc. has started its due diligence and application process with Taylorsville City.  The first outreach meeting was on November 6 when Erickson hosted an open house for residents and businesses in this area to explain their concept and answer questions from their new neighbors. Over 500 notices and invites were mailed out.  Attendees received information, met with owners and left impressed with the plan.  Future public meetings will be held as the land use, rezone, and site plan applications go through city approval hearings.

The community is projected to have about 1,800 independent living units, 3 major clubhouse facilities, on-site medical clinic with full time doctors and specialists; their own security, personnel  trained as first responders, 300 health care beds ranging from traditional assisted living, physical rehab., memory care, and hospice. Wayne Harper, Taylorsville’s economic development director stated: “I am impressed with the quality of the Erickson Communities.  They are meeting an important and increasing need for residents of Taylorsville and Salt Lake County as we age.  Not only will the needs of our seniors be met, but Erickson will bring a significant number of quality full time and part time jobs to the area and will increase the property tax base for the city and school district.”

You can find more information about this quality builder and John Erickson’s 30 years of working with seniors at www.ericksonliving.com or by calling John Erickson at his Baltimore office at (410) 402-2222. They will be happy to tell you more about their high-quality retirement communities and their plans for Taylorsville.