North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Site work is set to begin this week on Legacy at Mills River, a 216-unit retirement development billed as Western North Carolina’s first newly constructed Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in more than 25 years.
The project, led by Raleigh-based Retirement Living Associates and co-developed by Liberty Senior Living of Wilmington, includes a mix of apartments, duplexes and single-family homes on 112 acres along Jeffress Road, about eight miles south of Asheville. Construction is expected to wrap up in 2027.
Unlike most retirement communities in the region, Legacy will operate on a homeownership model while offering on-site licensed assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Developers say the facility will meet growing demand for retirement options that combine independence with long-term health services in one location.
Plans call for a five-story apartment building, 76 single-family homes, and 70 duplexes, along with a wide range of amenities—from multiple dining venues and a wellness center to pickleball courts, walking trails and a stocked fishing pond. A health center and primary care clinic will also be located on site.
Construction will be handled by Beverly-Grant Inc., an Asheville-based general contractor with regional experience. The project’s design and engineering team includes ARCA Design, McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, Civil Design Concepts, and Kimley-Horn.
While developers cite strong demand and advance reservations, the project also enters a competitive and evolving market. The region has seen limited new senior housing development in recent decades, but rising construction costs, workforce shortages, and questions about affordability continue to pose challenges.