Skyline Commons The future of health care

Skyline Commons, which will become the first life care community in New York City when it opens in 2008, celebrated the support of its initial depositors during a dinner held at Caff on the Green on Tuesday, June 20.
Skyline Commons is sponsored by the Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in partnership with New Life Management and Development, Inc. It is being built at Parsons Boulevard and 82nd Drive in Jamaica in a 10-story building near Queens Hospital Center and will include 143 independent living apartments, 19 assisted living apartments and 40 skilled nursing accommodations.
&#8220It's actually the future of health care,” said Gerald Hart, Executive Director of Margaret Tietz.
According to Marketing Director Julia Bartholomew, about 50 reservations have already been made for Skyline Commons.
&#8220With your support we're going to put together a community that will be a premier place to live,” Bartholomew said to the depositors present.
One early depositor is Catherine Papell, who currently lives in Flushing. She said that she likes the fact that it was close to her home and that it is a not-for-profit organization.
&#8220I came on very early,” said Papell, who also said that she has a special affection for Margaret Tietz because her husband passed away there. &#8220I like the idea that it's a retirement community.”
Margarette Ward, a depositor currently living in Howard Beach, made the decision to move to Skyline Commons in April.
&#8220I was looking for a place to move to,” she said. &#8220It's going to be a change in living but I look forward to the change.”
Hart said that he thinks the response to Skyline Commons has been great and that the depositors will make it a wonderful place to live.
&#8220They're all lively, fun, active older adults,” he said. &#8220I think we have a great population and we have a great start. I'd love to live with them.”
Once completed, Skyline Commons will include housekeeping, cooking, home maintenance, valet parking, 24-hour security, a day spa, fitness center, cocktail lounge, library, computer lab, performance center and rooftop garden, among other things.
For more information on Skyline Commons, call (718) 820-0818 or 1-800-943-0360 or visit www.skylinecommons.com.