Reporter staff

Residents are now moving into the latest addition of a completed Town Center redevelopment, which features a new park-like public plaza on the property’s edge bordering the Island’s I-90 Outdoor Sculpture Park.

According to Jena Owens, the vice president of marketing for the new Aljoya building, the facility opened on Sept. 8 and the residents of two or three units are moving in every day. The 114-room facility was 70 percent full as of opening and there is a waiting list of several interested residents who will be viewing rooms before fully committing to a lease.

“This has been a very successful project,” Owens said. “We are now open and excited to be a part of the Mercer Island community.”

The new five-story building has one-, two- and three-bedroom suites between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet. Residents are required to be over 62 years old, as it is a continuing care retirement center. Instead of having a separate skilled nursing unit, flexible licensing will allow services to be brought to the residents in their own apartments, if needed. There is a refundable entrance fee and the monthly rents vary according to apartment size and service level. The building also features a dining program, social activities, fitness facilities, a day spa and scheduled transportation around the Island, as well as to Seattle, Bellevue, and the greater Eastside.

Aljoya will have two restaurants, a casual bistro and a full-service restaurant, Lily’s, which will both eventually be open to the general public. The outdoor plaza features two bocce ball courts, several benches and picnic tables with chess boards. Owens also said the building plans to host a community open house with an official dedication of the new plaza in November.