Newswise — November 13, 2013 – Neptune, NJ – Jersey Shore University Medical Center and the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Neptune Housing Authority (TNHA) will break ground on Monday, November 18, 2013 on 50 new senior housing units for the residents of the John Knox Senior Housing Complex, currently located on Davis Avenue. The new housing complex will be built on two diagonal parcels of land, situated on Neptune Boulevard and Taylor Avenue. The development reflects a unique collaboration between Neptune Township and Jersey Shore, part of the Meridian Health family, as it will provide residents with new, modern apartments and enable the hospital to expand its medical facilities and services.

This $13 million development, funded by Jersey Shore, will provide the seniors with 50 new housing units in closer to proximity to the new Neptune Senior Center. In turn, the hospital will expand its campus on Davis Avenue – providing patients, families and team members with convenient access to proposed health care facilities and services.

According to Anne Sibole, a fifteen year resident of the current senior housing complex, “My neighbors and I are looking forward to the new development. We love living in Neptune, and these new apartments will be bigger and better, with more space and modern appliances. Plus, the location is very convenient, as the apartments will be very close to the post office.”

Working closely with TNHA and the community for more than ten years, Meridian Health assembled a project team with expertise in matters related to the HUD approval process, senior housing and community planning. TNHA and Meridian contracted PRC Group – a local industry leader in property development – to construct the new units.

“I am glad to see this vision come to fruition, as Neptune Township and Jersey Shore have been working hard on this project for many years. The new senior complex benefits everyone – it’s good for the township, good for the senior residents who will enjoy the new apartments and good for the hospital and health care of our community,” comments Edward Green, chairman, TNHA and retired police captain of Neptune Township.

The two new one-story apartment buildings, expected to be complete February 2015, will be arranged in a friendly garden-style, gated enclave. Each one bedroom apartment will feature modern appliances, marble and granite accents, along with a host of other amenities. Residents will also enjoy a social clubhouse and an additional laundry facility. The development has been designed in accordance with American Disability Association standards, with a distinct emphasis on safety, comfort and community.

Jersey Shore will expand its health care facilities on Davis Avenue with plans to develop a new diagnostic and treatment building, a clinical academic center for physicians and faculty, support space for the regional medical school campus, additional outpatient service areas, and a dedicated Meridian Cancer Care center. Additional parking for patients, guests and team members will also be available.

Neptune Township Mayor Eric Houghtaling comments, “Neptune Township is very excited about the new Housing Authority apartments. This development delivers the best both worlds for seniors and the hospital. Seniors will benefit from more spacious and comfortable apartments, and Jersey Shore will be able to expand and continue improving upon its tradition as one of the finest hospitals in the state.”

“The collaboration with the Township of Neptune Housing Authority to create new senior housing is a great example of a dynamic community working together to improve senior housing and expand health care services. It’s a win-win for everyone involved,” says Steven G. Littleson, FACHE, president of Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

About Neptune Township:Neptune Township is historically known as the “Crossroads of the Jersey Shore”, thanks to its easy access from over a half dozen state highways and nearby bus and train stations. Neptune Township is proud of its diversity of neighborhoods, its traditional American spirit and its recreational abundance. With more than a half mile of beautiful beach, Ocean Grove is one of the few non-commercial beaches at the Jersey Shore. The Shark River provides abundant boating opportunities with easy access to the ocean. The Township has abundant open space, including a Monmouth County Park System golf course and Jumping Brook Country Club. From county parks, to sandy beaches, from national historic sites and homes to fantastic shopping and vacation destinations, the communities of Neptune Township, nestled in eight square miles of east coast central Monmouth County, offer everything you need to live, work, play and grow.

About PRC Group:Headquartered in Long Branch, The PRC Group is an industry leader in providing total-scope construction capabilities for all types of buildings, including commercial office buildings, retail centers, hospitality facilities, industrial complexes and residential communities ranging from condominiums to estate home enclaves. They have extensive experience locally and nationally in fulfilling projects ranging from specialized tenant build-outs to complete turn-key construction projects.

About Jersey Shore University Medical Center:Jersey Shore University Medical Center, a member of the Meridian Health family, is a not-for-profit teaching hospital and home to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital – the first children’s hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Jersey Shore is the regional provider of cardiac surgery, a program which has been ranked among the best in the Northeast, and is home to the only trauma center and stroke rescue center in the region. Jersey Shore specializes in cardiovascular care, orthopedics and rehabilitation, cancer care, neuroscience, nerve surgery and women’s specialty services. Through the hospital’s clinical research program, and its affiliation with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Jersey Shore serves as an academic center dedicated to advancing medical knowledge, training future physicians and providing the community with access to promising medical breakthroughs. For more information about Jersey Shore University Medical Center call 1-800-DOCTORS, or visit www.JerseyShoreUniversityMedicalCenter.com.