Before Beth Harris took over as the executive director of a new Bridgeport business opening soon with a $13.9 million price tag, she was like many driving by it. Like so many others in the community, she thought it was something else.

 

“I’ve heard it since I’ve been here and, honestly, when it was first being built and there was no sign up, I thought it was another hotel,” said Harris, who said she had heard others thinking it was a casino. “I guess I was guilty of not knowing. Once the sign went up and I knew what was coming, I thought it was something I would like to do.”

 

Harris went from curious passer-by to integral person in charge of Harmony at White Oaks. It is an assisted living facility that covers 94,000 square feet over its two stories.

 

“This is a new state-of-the-art community looking for the best in assisted living,” said Harris.

 

Harris and her staff have been busy in recent months. Not only is the construction getting closer to an end game, but families and possible future residents are regulars in looking over the facility and visiting their sales trailer on site at White Oaks.

 

“It’s getting extremely busy because we’re getting close to opening,” said Harris. “The goal is to open on Oct. 19.”

 

As one may imagine, opening a business of this nature is a little more complicated as it deals with health care and taking care of individuals. There are various protocols needing to be covered and licenses to be secured as well as needing final state approval.

 

Once everything is lined up, more than 100 units will be available for residents. One of the key features is a 38-bed memory care unit.

 

“It is a locked unit that is secure. It will primarily be for our residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s. The locked unit is to make sure they are safe,” said Harris.

 

There will also be 72 assisted living apartments. And for those thinking it’s on a small scale, they may want to get a chance to look.

 

“The apartments are upscale,” said Harris, who has worked in long-term care for 22 years as a nursing home administrator. “They have a full kitchen, minus a stove, but with a microwave. We even offer different floor plans. Most of the apartment have a living room space, bedroom space, closet space and a large bathroom.”

 

There are other amenities beyond the individual rooms. Harris said there is a gym, a bistro, a movie theatre, a beauty and nail salon, a library, a nurse’s station as well as on-site rehabilitation services and various other activities.

 

The Harmony is not the first assisted living facility in Bridgeport. They are, however, the largest.

 

Why Bridgeport?

 

“The owners, the architects and the CEO did a lot of market research and saw a need in the Bridgeport area even though we have a facility close to Morgantown,” said Harris, who added being close to United Hospital Center is an added benefit. “It worked out because White Oaks was starting another phase that suited us at the time we were looking.”

 

Harmony Senior Services, headquartered in Roanoke Va., and Charleston SC, is the parent company. Harris said It’s a growing outfit.

 

Harris did have an exact number on the number of staff members that will be in place. However, she said it will not be a small number.

 

“There will be a substantial staff, particularly in the memory unit because for every five residents there you have to have a trained staff member with them,” said Harris who said there is no buy-in feed to live in the community. “There will be administrative and marketing staff, RNs, LPNs, a chef, servers for the restaurant, maintenance staff and a medical director.”

 

To learn more about Harmony at White Oaks, call them at 304-933-6640. Individuals can visit them on their Web site harmonyatwhiteoaks.com as well as their Facebook page. They can be reached by Messenger on Facebook.

 

“This will be successful as there is a strong need here,” said Harris. “I think we’re going to fill up as we’ve had 50 leads that are beyond just inquiring. The number of inquiries is substantially higher.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Beth Harris at her sales desk, while in the fifth photo she's shown pointing out some of the features of a residential unit. In the second photo the massive water tanks for the building are shown, while the entrance area is in the fourth picture. The bottom photo shows some of the heavy equipment still on the scene as work continues ahead of the planned October opening.