Construction begins on newest phase of Ashby Ponds

Construction is underway on Willow Crossing, a $30 million, four-story, 200,000 square-foot-residence building —the newest addition to the Ashby Pond retirement community in Ashburn.

The building will offer 101 new apartment homes and amenities, such as a new restaurant, theater room, and fitness space. Ninety-nine percent of the apartment homes, scheduled for completion in summer of 2014, have been reserved.

“We are thrilled to be able to meet the strong demand for the Ashby Ponds lifestyle with Willow Crossing,” David Gallagher, executive director at Ashby Ponds, said in a statement. “ … We recently celebrated our fifth anniversary and will also be introducing our continuing care neighborhood early next year.”

Officials for Ashby Ponds say the addition of  continuing care is in part driving demand for the new apartments. “Without a doubt, future residents appreciate the comfort of knowing that continuing-care options will be available if needed,” said Holly Henderson, the community’s director of sales. The continuing-care neighborhood will include residences and care designed for assisted living, post-acute rehabilitation, nursing care and memory care.

Willow Crossing has been designed by the architectural firm of Marks, Thomas Architects.  Whiting-Turner will serve as the general contractor for the new building.

Ashby Ponds is one of 16 retirement communities managed by Erickson Living. It’s located  on a 132-acre campus in Ashburn, about 30 miles west of Washington, D.C.. The community is home to more than 725 residents.