Last month, a ribbon cutting and groundbreaking was held for renovations and a new addition to the Franciscan Village complex at 3648 Rocky River Drive in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood. Franciscan Village of Our Lady of Angels currently offers 176 units of affordable housing for seniors aged 62 and up, and with the construction of a new annex, 63 more units are being added. The reception was well attended by a cross section of supporters of Franciscan Village’s past and present as well as those looking toward its future.
Recent improvements and renovations help residents thrive
At the event, Franciscan Village board members mingled with residents, political and governmental figures, and other key individuals that have helped Franciscan Village move forward to meet the demands for housing in Cleveland’s senior community in West Park. Recent data shows that this type of affordable housing is sorely needed, as rent increases in Northeast Ohio and across the nation create more and more of a gap between rents and affordability.
Don MacBride, president of the board of Franciscan Village, opened the ceremony with prayer. He praised the creation of a new atrium and community center as well as the transformation of the former rectory of Our Lady of Angels church into an activity center. “These spaces will serve as hubs for connection through our thriving programs and events,” he said.
Recent significant renovations to the existing buildings have added new flooring, upgraded appliances, and numerous other improvements. Residents now have a computer lab, expanded library, fitness center, therapy room, and larger community room. Outdoor fitness is just steps away with a newly-established walking trail on the north side of the complex.
Franciscan Village is part of Barton Communities, a manager and developer of affordable housing for older adults. Alistar Englehart, Barton’s property manager at Franciscan Village, said the goal of the community is to help older adults flourish through “safety, connection and comfort.” He added, “We strongly believe that our community is one in which the quality of life is enhanced for each and every one of our tenants, as they build meaningful relationships and enjoy a peaceful home.” That sentiment was echoed by all the speakers at the ceremony.
Councilman Charles Slife said there is a clear need for senior affordable housing in West Park, citing the waiting list to get into Franciscan Village. “One thing we hear is that people want to stay in this neighborhood but it is not always easy to age in some of these older homes,” he said. “We have all been in the classic Cleveland colonial with the bathroom upstairs, and as you get older, it becomes tough and, unfortunately, we lose a lot of people … to the suburbs because we don’t have the housing product they need as they get older. So being able to expand and meet that demand is so important to me, because I want people to stay and be active in the community for as long as they can, with the people they know, and in a place that they love.”
Diane Shelley of the U.S. Dept of Housing and Urban Development and Guy Ford of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency offered great praise for the teamwork and diligence displayed by the board and residents during the planning and renovation process, much of which took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
History and convenience draw residents to the complex
The groundbreaking for the Franciscan Village Annex took place with earth moving machines already busily working on the new addition. The Annex will add a fourth building with 63 new units to complement the already existing 176 units spread across three different buildings.
The first building at Franciscan Village, the former Our Lady of Angels Franciscan Seminary, was outfitted for independent senior living in the early 1980s. Two newer buildings followed. All three buildings have been filled to capacity with a waiting list since their openings.
Attending the ceremony was former U.S. congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar, who also attended the dedication of the seminary as Franciscan Village Apartments along with First Lady Rosalynn Carter in 1980. She commented that this was senior living “done the right way.”
The property, overlooking the Rocky River valley and metropark, provides a beautiful setting for residents, she said. It’s convenient for shopping and is close to main roads and highways.
Franciscan Village resident Dan McCafferty said he moved there in 2022. Although he’s a more recent resident, McCafferty is a lifelong parishioner of Our Lady of Angels. Moving into the village means “no grass cutting or snow shoveling,” he said. It also means he’s right next door to his church where he is an active volunteer serving at masses and a member of the Holy Name Society. He especially likes game nights and karaoke nights. He has even taken a knitting class.
Sisters Neva and Katie Howard, who share a two bedroom unit at Franciscan Village, moved there 11 years ago. Both enthusiastically remarked about the feeling of being in a well-kept environment. “They care about the residents here,” Neva Howard remarked. “We are safe and comfortable. We have free wi-fi and are in a great location in the city.”
Katie Howard said, “Our opinions count here with the staff and the board. There is help available to meet all our needs. They care and they show it. We wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”
Right next door to Our Lady of Angels Church, the Franciscan Village property is rich with history as the former home to Our Lady of Angels Franciscan Seminary which was founded in the early 1900s. Back in those days, the priests, brothers, and seminarians lived almost independently with vineyards and gardens of their own. From the early Franciscans to today, the property continues to nurture independent lifestyles for its residents.
An early founder, Father Hyacinth, O.F.M. encouraged people to “induce friends and relatives to move into this area” to get away from “the dingy, smoky, and overcrowded city.” That was in 1906.
Hyacinth announced then that “a few hitching posts have been set for those driving into church.” He asked that horses not be hitched to the trees as it takes a lifetime to grow a tree. Now, residents hitch their hopes onto Franciscan Village for a safe and enriching lifestyle while enjoying the convenience of living in the West Park area.
Learn more about Franciscan Village on its website. Contact the leasing office at (216) 941-3330.
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