Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Senior housing complex marks grand opening

Silver Sky at Deer Springs

Aida Ahmed

Silver Sky at Deer Springs, a low-income, assisted-living facility for seniors, had its grand opening in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011.

Silver Sky at Deer Springs

Silver Sky at Deer Springs, a low-income, assisted-living facility for seniors, had its grand opening in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011. Launch slideshow »

Silver Sky at Deer Springs

Low-income seniors in the valley have a new option for assisted living with the opening of Silver Sky at Deer Springs.

The facility at 6741 North Decatur Blvd. celebrated its grand opening Thursday. It is a collaboration among the city of Las Vegas, Clark County and the city of North Las Vegas, with help from the Nevada Housing Division and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The 83,000-square-foot, apartment-style housing complex, created for those age 55 and older, cost an estimated $15 million to build and was 10 years in the making.

The complex includes a library, computer center, living areas, bingo room, beauty salon, laundry rooms and a wellness area with a physician exam room where doctors can see patients. The complex caters to seniors with health issues who want to stay active.

“In my stage in life, this is the best place for me to be,” said Fred Sturgill, an 85-year-old resident of Silver Sky.

He moved in earlier this month and his wife passed away shortly thereafter. As his first experience in assisted living, he said, the staff at Silver Sky has been welcoming.

“I have very good care here, and all the people are just as nice as they can

be,” Sturgill said. “It’s a very nice place.”

Silver Sky President Mic Cochran said seniors interested in moving into the property must have an annual income less than $27,600. Incomes as low as $18,000 are considered, if residents supplement payments with help from friends and family or through savings and pensions.

Single-unit apartments start at $2,217 a month.

“It’s an all-inclusive payment, so they get meals, housekeeping, 24/7 security and care plans,” Cochran said. “On a comparative basis, a private-pay assisted living community could have starting rates of $3,500 to $5,000.”

The fee also includes all daily living assistance, utilities, an emergency response call system, transportation and activities and recreation. Cochran said about a third of the complex’s 90 units have been filled since its opening in April. The average age of tenants is 84.

The project was completed with the help of several local entities. The city of Las Vegas donated 10 acres of land for the campus via a federal grant, the city of North Las Vegas provided $950,000 in low-income housing trust funds and the Nevada Housing Division gave $12.5 million in permanent funding. Clark County also put in $500,000 in federal HOME funds, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided a $681,000 economic development grant.

“The quality of what is being provided is phenomenal,” said Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, who applauded the effort to bring an alternative housing option to seniors. “We’re very proud, from the city’s perspective.”

Silver Sky staff credit the residents for its success.

“Bringing them into a sense of community is incredibly important,” Cochran said. “Certain residents from very diverse backgrounds have begun to interact and I think that’s what kind of creates the fabric for the community.”

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