A ribbon-cutting and grand opening for Yorkshire of Edina – a new senior living facility on York Avenue –
Tuesday afternoon, honoring the partners, residents and community members that made it possible. “When I look around at the new residents … I can see that they are already settled in and content, which is very important,” Mayor Jim Hovland said during the ceremony. “It was just open space – green space between the old building and York. The city council approved this project and it has turned out so well – you hit it out of the park. It doesn’t surprise me that it is one-fifth full after just a few weeks in operation.” Julie Flaig Smith, the executive director of Yorkshire of Edina, believes that the location, connected by sidewalks and trails mere blocks from both Centennial Lakes Park and other retail like Target, Galleria and the YMCA, is key to fulfilling its mission for their senior residents. “It really helps because our mission is to improve the lives of those we serve,” Flaig Smith said. “People are so proud to be from Edina: So proud to stay in Edina, so proud to stay in their neighborhood.
And since … we are on the edge of residential and the business, they are able to stay independent, able to stay in the groups they have been in.”
Another unique quality of Yorkshire of Edina is how residents can participate in the financial side of the operation. “With direct participation real estate, clients gain ownership in a hard asset – in this case Yorkshire of Edina,” explained Vincent Asset Management Wealth Manager Ryan Vincent. He added that this project is particularly special, in part because it helps residents remain interactive. “Yorkshire of Edina was created
with the understanding that seniors need to continue to live full, vibrant lives,” Vincent said. “Residents need to have a sense of purpose and belonging. Volunteer and service opportunities in and outside of Yorkshire will be provided to ensure that residents can connect with things that make them feel good.” Because of these elements, Jeanne Jaeckles, director of development for Tealwood Senior Living, believes that Yorkshire
will be a model for future senior living projects. “Every time we build we always try to do ‘Something a little different, ‘What did you like? What didn’t you like?’ to fill what they need. Not about what we think is pretty and nice, what they feel comfortable with. They are really excited, really
proud of their new home,” she said. Yorkshire of Edina offers a range of senior living options from independent plus, assisted living and advanced care to end of life. “Another area that stands out is that we have everything from people being quite independent – we have underground parking, they can come and go – all the way to total assistance,” Flaig Smith said. There is also a Legacy Court, which is a 30-apartment secured memory support neighborhood within Yorkshire of Edina that offers specialized care for those living with cognitive challenges. “Progressive care models, hospitality-level customer service and convenience are built into each facet of daily life for Yorkshire of Edina residents,” Vincent said. “The staff’s focus on proactively maintaining good quality of life is similar to our philosophical approach to wealth management, which we call preventative wealth care. To see this DPRE (direct participation real estate) investment come to fruition is extremely gratifying for us.” For more information about Yorkshire of Edina, visit yorkshireofedina.com/yorkshire-of Edina.