John Knox Village plans $135M expansion of Pompano Beach retirement community

A hybrid of a resort and a traditional retirement community is coming to Pompano Beach.

John Knox Village is moving forward with a $135 million expansion of the sprawling 70-acre development at 651 Southwest Sixth Street in Pompano Beach. The first phase, which broke ground on Wednesday, will include a $3.2 million welcome and innovation center.

The 7,200-square-foot building will have office space for the nonprofit John Knox Village Foundation, a 1,000-square-foot design center with finishes, a video production studio and two conference rooms, according to a release. The first phase also calls for a nearly 2,500-square-foot open-air space for events. It is expected to be completed by next spring.

Rendering of John Knox Village

Overall, the expansion will include 150 apartments ranging from 1,277 square feet to 2,346 square feet; a pavilion center with two restaurants and a 400-seat meeting center; a new aquatic center with two pools, four courts for pickleball, and bocce ball; and renovations to the village center.

Entrance fees, a lifetime payment for health care, other services and use of a home, ranges from about $332,000 to $610,000. The monthly service fees, which include rent, utilities, transportation, housekeeping, maintenance and more, range from $2,920 to $4,809, according to a spokesperson.

John Knox CEO Gerry Stryker said the nonprofit plans to finance construction using its own equity, but will likely use bank financing or a tax exempt bond. Stryker said John Knox works with PNC Bank and Northern Trust.

Gallo Herbert Architects, EDSA Landscape Architects, BSSW Architects and Perkins Eastman Architects are working on the project. It will be built over the next 15 years, Stryker said.

The community currently has more than 900 independent living residents living in roughly 700 villas and apartment buildings, Stryker said.

Pompano Beach is experiencing a wave of redevelopment.

The city of Pompano Beach and the Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency recently announced they are looking for bidders to redevelop a 30-acre assemblage within the city’s planned downtown innovation district. The city and Northwest CRA issued a request for letters of interest for a master developer to acquire and develop properties within the planned 70-acre innovation district.

In May, San Diego-based Fairfield Residential scored a $56.5 million loan to build its Fairfield Pompano apartment project at 601 North Federal Highway, near Pompano Community Park and Pompano Beach High School.