Nugent Breaks Ground for Lakes at Jefferson

MERCER, Pa. – In four months, the plans for The Nugent Group’s newest continuing care retirement center went from a rough sketch to a groundbreaking in Jefferson Township that featured contractors and local officeholders.

It all happened quickly, so quickly in fact, that Nugent Group President John Nugent could barely believe it.

“I’ve been building things for over 50 years all over the world,” he said Wednesday. “Never have I ever seen a project come together so fast. And it’s because so many people helped with this.”

All contractors on the project have worked with Nugent Group before on upgrading the group’s five buildings in Hermitage, Sharon, Butler and Darlington. During his speech before ground was broken, Nugent reeled off name after name, thanking everyone involved, from electrical contractors to financiers to reporters in attendance.

“This is going to be multi-million-dollar facility that will be bringing jobs to the area. We really wanted to build an upscale facility for the residents of Mercer and surrounding areas,” said Shane Nugent, vice president of the group.

Currently, the group employs more than 300 across its divisions and centers. No exact figure for the cost of the project was given.

The Lakes at Jefferson, 7271 W. Market St., which broke ground Wednesday, will begin construction in about two weeks and is expected to open in spring 2017. When finished, it will have 67 beds spread among 22 independent living suites and 42 personal care rooms. At 70,000 square feet, it will be The Nugent Group’s largest building.

Situated on 38 acres, The Lakes will have walking paths and several water features, Vice President Shane Nugent said.

“We’re putting in a retention pond and a fountain [up front]. And behind the building, we’ll build another pond with a waterfall where the land drops off at the back of the property,” he said. “The idea is to get that stocked so our residents can fish there.”

The idea for putting in the ponds came from The Nugent Group’s Lakeview Personal Care in Darlington.

“I’ve always liked water, waterfalls, fountains,” John Nugent said. “We’ve seen how residents [at Lakeview] like fishing there. Even residents from other places are going there to fish.”

Nugent said he wants a country club-like atmosphere at The Lakes and the company’s first building project – all other Nugent sites have been purchased and renovated – is “the perfect chance” to try it.

“We don’t have a facility like this,” he said. “It’s going to be pretty upscale. … It will be one of the most beautiful buildings around with independent and personal care.”

With a site about halfway between Hermitage and Mercer, the new building will allow the group to better serve its constituents in both cities.

“Right now, it’s spread out [over several cities]. By putting this project up, with both personal care and independent living, we’re able to keep our [continuing care retirement communities] more localized,” the group president said. “The people in the skilled facilities now won’t have to go far for personal care.”

As for the specific amenities The Lakes at Jefferson will offer, nothing is certain yet. But, John Nugent said, when the time comes to make that decision, he always asks himself one question.

“Whenever I get involved, I ask myself, ‘Would I want to be here?’ If the answer is ‘No,’ then you’re doing something wrong,” he said. “The answer always has to be ‘Yes.’ That’s why whenever we buy a building, we make it so we would be happy to live there.”

Pictured at the groundbreaking are Derric Nugent, president, NuBridge Development; John Nugent, president, The Nugent Group; Nancy Nugent; Shane Nugent, vice president, The Nugent Group.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.