SALEM, Ohio – The first residents will soon be able to move into independent villas at the Shepherd of the Valley Salem campus.
But first, an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday will give the community an opportunity to see the project’s progress over the past year and tour one of the villas.
“We’re looking forward to showing it off, because it’s good quality construction from our local vendors and subcontractors,” said Mark Dodd, vice president of DeSalvo Construction. “DeSalvo is just so happy to be able to start showing people this beautiful campus.”
DeSalvo Construction has served as the general contractor for the project, which officially broke ground in September 2025, although some dirt began to move in July last year. Since then, DeSalvo and many trade partners have been adding the infrastructure, roads, villas, clubhouse and other amenities that will make the community a special place to call home for seniors.
“A lot of great local trade partners are working with us on these buildings,” Dodd said. “We have different plumbers, electricians, sprinkler contractors, carpenters, concrete, masonry, roofing – just about every trade you can think of is actively working on the site.”
Rob Wilt, superintendent of the project for DeSalvo, said there are between 50 and 60 workers spread out across the property working on various parts of the construction every day.
More than 200 seniors interested in living in the new community are on the waiting list, according to Lauren Flauto, director of marketing, sales and communications for Shepherd of the Valley.
“The villas have definitely been a hot commodity, and everyone is excited to see them come to fruition,” Flauto said.
There are three floor plans for the independent villas, which feature one or two bedrooms, 1 1/2 or two bathrooms, an in-unit washer and dryer, kitchen appliances, large walk-in closets, a single-car garage, a porch and a patio. Some units also have dens.
Flauto said the outside patio areas include a semi-private fence and room for a table, chairs and a grill.
The staged unit for the open house is the two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,285-square-foot Walnut layout. The floor plans are named after Salem streets.
Lisa Slipkovich, who grew up in Salem, is the campus administrator and is available to show units to prospective residents. Appointments and information requests can be made through Shepherd of the Valley’s website or by calling the corporate office at 330 530 4038, ext. 2072.
“I’m excited to have people, more people coming out here and looking,” Slipkovich said. “It’s just nice to envision how the entire community is going to look.”
The first residents will be able to move into the first 12 independent villas next month, but those 12 villas, which are in four duplexes and one quadplex building, are just the beginning. Additional villas in eight more buildings are slated to be started after the first ones are occupied.
The community will also feature a three-story, 52-unit independent living apartment building, a midmarket option, that is also under construction and slated to be ready in early 2028.
A 36-unit assisted living building is even further along and is projected to be ready to accept residents in spring.The apartments and assisted living units each have three floor plan options and amenities.
Residents at the Shepherd of the Valley Salem campus will have access to the 34-acre property with walking paths, other outdoor amenities, such as bocce and pickleball courts, a dog park, raised gardens and playground for grandchildren to visit. A greenhouse is also planned.
Flauto said there is only one road into the community for safety, and some residents are preparing to bring a golf cart with them to navigate the community, which will include an on-site restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a grab-and-go marketplace and spiritual services.
“Our clubhouse is being built right now,” Flauto said. “It’s almost completed, and it’ll be ready around the beginning of the year. … That is our main feature when you first pull in. We’ll have everything from a restaurant, a bar, a fitness center with saunas and workout equipment for the residents to take advantage of, a library, a theatre lecture hall – all different types of amenities.”
Flauto and Slipkovich said the Salem community has been very welcoming to the new development and opening doors for the project to be built.
“People will literally thank us and say, ‘Thank you for building in Salem because we didn’t want to leave the city that we love,’” Flauto said.
Dodd said this type of senior housing was not available in Salem before the project began.
“Shepherd does such a great service to the community, and there’s such a need for this housing,” Dodd said. “I think this campus is just going to be such a benefit to the community.”
Wilt and DeSalvo workers were busy Monday landscaping, installing porch rails and cabinets and completing items on the checklist ahead of Friday’s open house. He said he looks forward to seeing the first residents move into the villas.
“You never want to see [a project] come to an end because you love what you do, but it’s fun to see it done and see the owners’ faces,” Wilt said.
The campus is located north of downtown near the intersection of North Ellsworth Avenue and U.S. Route 62. The community was designed by Baker, Bednar, Snyder & Associates Inc.
“I think it’s going to lead to more development around the area,” Dodd said. “It’s out of the city, and it’s next to the highways and it’s just a perfect location.”
Pictured at top: DeSalvo Construction’s Rob Wilt, superintendent, and Mark Dodd, vice president, have been developing the Shepherd of the Valley project since it was only a 34-acre field.