The search for senior housing brings Clear Lake couple back to familiar ground

(Above) Roger and Marilyn Ritter

One never knows when their life’s path will lead them back to familiar faces and places.

Over 40 years ago, Roger and Marilyn Ritter stood on an empty plot of land that would one day become Handicap Village, now known as One Vision.  As the young couple helped prepare the land for the organization’s first cottages, it is probably safe to say they would have never expected to return to that spot years later.

The Ritters are now residents of Glen Oaks Senior Living Community. Glen Oaks is the most recent addition to One Vision’s portfolio of community ventures that serve to make the best use of available assets due to a national mandate that required One Vision to integrate the people it serves into smaller, community-integrated housing.  Glen Oaks is comprised of TimberCrest Apartments and The Terraces Townhomes that offer opportunity for active senior living.

The Ritters originally moved to the Clear Lake area from Fort Dodge to work on a similar project to fill the need for senior housing at the lake.

“We’ve been up here since 1965,” explained Roger. “We built Oakwood Manor to give you an idea. My parents came to us and wondered if we’d be interested. They approached us and so we ventured into construction of that facility because the City of Clear Lake wanted a more up-to-date facility.”

One Vision worked with city leaders on how best to re-purpose the One Vision campus, and the need to grow safe and engaging living options for a growing senior population was once again front and center.

“The Clear Lake housing market has been growing and

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we recognize that senior housing is an important piece of that,” said City Administrator Scott Flory.  To facilitate the Glen Oaks Development at One Vision, the City served as a conduit borrower to facilitate One Vision take advantage of tax exempt financing opportunities.  The City also helped with infrastructure needs.  “A number of meetings were held throughout the community and the City was also part of that process,” added Flory.

After moving from the North Shore condo they had lived in since the early 1990s, both Roger and Marilyn have been impressed with the ease of transition facilitated by Kim Boyd, outreach and resident services coordinator at One Vision.

“Kim is wonderful. She is behind you all the way. When the little things needed adjustment, someone was up here right away to fix it. That means a lot when you’re new in a place,” explained Marilyn.  She also organizes social events and promotions for TimberCrest residents. The Ritters wouldn’t miss the Friday Coffee “Get to know your neighbors” get-togethers. “We have been getting acquainted with the other residents and everyone has been so friendly.”

One special connection for the Ritters has been long-time friends Dennis and Donna who moved into TimberCrest earlier this year. Dennis and Roger went all the way through grade school, high school, and two years of college (before enlisting as a paratrooper in the Korean War) and who later was a groomsman in their wedding.

Mary Ann Watson is among the newest residents to move into Timbercrest and, like the others, she couldn’t be happier.

“I was ready to move to town,” said Mary Ann.  “The country life was a little too quiet for me.  I lived on a two-mile long gravel road with a dead end, so just seeing traffic now and all of the activity is great.”

The Glen Oaks Community provides ample opportunities for recreation, including walking trails, pool and wellness center and exercise programs curated by Steven Story, pool and wellness manager.

“The one problem?” joked Roger. “I’m too happy. Serious. We both are. Very, very happy.”

“Yes, we both are,” Marilyn agreed. “This is really what Roger needed and it’s good for me, too.”

Next week: New home starts and permits for home construction projects are on the rise in Clear Lake.  We’ll take a look at some of the new developments.

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