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Seniors living facility opens in Eagle Point Country setting draws occupants to $4 million site By MELISSA MARTIN EAGLE POINT -- The Upper Rogue region's first assisted living facility -- and the 10th in Jackson County -- has opened, and already one-third of the apartments have been rented out. Eagle Cove Assisted Living Community on Loto Street in Eagle Point will draw its tenants from Prospect, Butte Falls, Trail, Sams Valley, White City and Shady Cove, said owner David Freel. "Seniors who were living in the country would prefer to stay in the country where their friends and family are," said Freel, an Eagle Point resident. "They shouldn't have to move to Medford just because that's where the facilities are located." Jacksonville proposal would create 90 units JACKSONVILLE -- Jacksonville may be getting its first assisted living facility. Jeff Chamberlain, who built Farmington Square in Medford, wants to build a 90-unit project located at the old Pioneer Village site on North Fifth Street. The project would have a main facility on one side of Jackson Creek and individual retirement apartments and duplexes on the other side of the creek, plus a doctor's office. "We've done this arrangement north of Seattle with independent duplexes," Chamberlain said. "It gives residents the opportunity to have dinner in the main building sometimes, but they can also live totally independent." Chamberlain has built similar projects in Eugene, Salem, Tualatin and Gresham and has one in the works in Virginia. Chamberlain's project has not yet been submitted to city planners. The Jacksonville City Council must first change zoning laws to allow for assisted living facilities. A public hearing will be held next month. Besides 62 apartments with kitchenettes, the $4 million facility has a dining room with a river-rock fireplace, a theater room, solariums and a covered porch with bent willow furniture. "We wanted a nice, spacious porch so people could sit out here and watch the activities and drink lemonade," said manager LeAnn Peabody. "That's part of a small-town setting." That's what drew resident Margaret Watkins of Eagle Point. "Eagle Cove is exceptionally convenient," said Pam Watkins, one of Margaret's four children. "When they were building, we were excited about it being so close to all of us. "She wasn't uprooted out of her normal life and put in some strange place," Watkins said. "The post office is right across the street, her bank is a block away and her friends are nearby." Eagle Cove is partly owned by Generations, which also operates SkyLark Assisted Living in Ashland, Alderwood in Central Point, The Orchards in Medford and 14 other Oregon facilities. In Eagle Point, plans call for adding a medical clinic staffed by nurse practitioner Kathy Finley, a pharmacy and a child care center for the children of Eagle Cove employees. "I had the vision for this property but it's taken five years to get to the building phase," Freel said. The planning process was costly -- Freel spent $250,000 in development fees -- and cumbersome, partly because Eagle Point zoning ordinances made no provision for the modern concept of aging places. Assisted living facilities are a growing trend in smaller communities, said Karen Hampton, branch manager for Rogue Valley Council of Governments' senior services. "A lot of people retire in good health and move to smaller towns," Hampton said. "Then when their health declines, they don't want to leave friends or their church or their other support systems and start all over." Across the state, assisted living facilities have increased from 35 to 135 in five years, Hampton said. Eagle Cove monthly rents are $1,650 for a studio apartment, $1,750 for a large studio and $1,850 for a one-bedroom apartment. All include meals, housekeeping, utilities and maintenance. Eagle Cove accepts Medicaid payments. Another small town with its first assisted living facility is Rogue River. Morrow Heights, a 43-unit facility, will celebrate its grand opening on May 21. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA