February 22, 2008
Chamberlin project is taking shape
The hotel will be a blend of old and new for those who opt to live in the retirement community.
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One
of the most famous historic properties in Hampton Roads is still on
track to become the most coveted retirement community when the
restoration of The Chamberlin in Hampton is completed in June.
When the $55-million renovation is done, the former hotel will be a
blend of the historic architectural features that made it beloved and
updates that will make it modern and livable. The Drucker and
Falk-managed project on Fort Monroe will have 133 high-end apartments
for seniors 62 and up.
While there is a considerable amount of historic detail that will
remain intact, the rooms are distinctly modern and upscale. Much of the
building's primary and exterior features were retained, but interior
walls were knocked down for rooms that are outfitted with new
appliances and lighting fixtures, granite countertops and marble
thresholds.
The hotel is owned by a group of investors, and Drucker & Falk
worked closely with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources on
the restoration to qualify for historic tax credits. The large iconic
lobby, including the original Grand Piano, will be one of the features
that will closely resemble the past.
"The lobby itself is one area they were very clear that it had to be
returned, near as people could tell, to its prime," said Bob Lippard,
director of senior living for Drucker & Falk.
The company is now taking applications for the units, and Hampton Roads
residents will get first preference for the type of unit they want.
About 100 people who live in the region have indicated an interest, and
Lippard expects that 15-20 percent of the future renters will come from
outside the region when it is full.
Getting into the prime property surrounded by water, loaded with
amenities and access to medical professionals from Sentara will not
come cheap. The cost ranges from $2,850 a month for one bedroom to
anywhere from $3,825 to $6,000 for a two-bedroom. The rent includes a
wide array of services.
"In a retirement community, virtually all expenses someone will have living at home are covered," said Lippard.
Residents will get one meal a day, from their choice of an upscale
waterfront restaurant or a casual bistro. The Chesapeake Room dining
area has a large dance floor that was restored. They can then grab a
night cap at the Officer's Club, which will have a bar, billiards and
big-screen television.
Rent includes membership to a health club, where there will be exercise
classes and wellness programs run by Sentara. The club will be called
The Hygeia, which was the name of the hotel that preceded the
Chamberlin in the same spot. The Hygeia opened in 1820 and was later
torn down. Its replacement burnt down in 1920.
The third incarnation of the Chamberlin that is being restored today
was built in 1928 and closed as a hotel in 2003, when the company that
owned it at the time went bankrupt. The Florida-based company had
trouble keeping it open as a hotel after 9-11 created restrictions for
getting on base.
Another one of the complicated points of restoration that will benefit
the residents is the heated, indoor swimming pool. The bottom of the
original pool and surrounding deck had small, elaborate tiles that
aren't made anymore. The restoration will try to duplicate the effort,
but the pool will be made to a universal depth that suits seniors.
"They said make it as close as you can," Lippard said. "That work is just getting ready to be done."
Every two weeks, the hospitality staff will tidy rooms and clean the
linens. Most of the rooms from the fourth floor up have views of the
water in all directions. Besides running on-site health programs,
Sentara will have a growing presence for home health and physical
therapy services.
A plan to build a new adjoining assisted living facility was scrapped.
Instead, Chamberlin residents will get first priority to move to
Senatara centers when they need the more-intensive medical care.
Chamberlin renters will also have the flexibility that comes with an
annual lease, rather than a long-term commitment.
When the apartments open in June, it will conclude 22 months of
construction that employed 100 workers a day at its height. Besides the
$39 million spent directly on building, there was a substantial outlay
for designers, lawyers, asbestos and lead paint remediation and
specialized contractors.
"There were so many dimensions of the hotel that you just don't see every day," Lippard said.
The new executive director of The Chamberlin, Sue Moniak, is confident
there will be plenty of interest and the facility will set a new
standards for retirement living.
"I don't know another building that can even compare to the Chamberlin," Moniak said.
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Copyright © 2008, Newport News, Va., Daily Press
