YUMA and FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The Weitz Company and Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services (ADVS) are preparing to break ground on a new Arizona State Veteran Home in Yuma. This will be the second such home built by the partnership, having recently broken ground on another in Flagstaff.
Both projects are part of a vision the ADVS implemented to increase independent and assisted living options to support and care for military veterans throughout Arizona. The Flagstaff and Yuma projects will collectively add 160 beds to the ADVS network which already includes 200-bed and 120-bed facilities in Phoenix and Tucson, respectively.
“Thirty-nine percent of veterans in the Flagstaff area and 24 percent of veterans in the Yuma area are over age 65,” says Retired Air Force Col. Wanda Wright, ADVS director. “These numbers don’t even include the many other veterans who live in rural areas. Now we can serve them as close to their homes, families and friends as possible. This helps families save on travel costs and helps veterans thrive.”
The homes in Yuma and Flagstaff will be nearly identical in design and services. Both will be single-story buildings that measure 74,000 square feet and have 80 beds (60 skilled nursing and 20 memory care). All units will be private and furnished.
Working with architect SmithGroup on each project, The Weitz Company will install high-efficiency mechanical systems to complement the sustainable designs of the Flagstaff and Yuma homes. LEED Silver certification is being pursued for both.
The veteran homes in Flagstaff and Yuma are both scheduled for completion by June 2021.