Property of the Month: FilBen Group, RSF, M&T Bank, JF Nolan, McAlpine and H2M celebrate opening of $54m Braemar Living at Montebello

Montebello, NY Owner/developer FilBen Group, equity partner RSF Partners, lender M&T Bank, political leaders, project manager JF Nolan & Associates, contractor McAlpine Contracting and designer H2M Architects + Engineers celebrated the grand opening of Braemar Living at Montebello luxury assisted-living residence, the newest and highest quality senior community in Rockland County.

The property is a 200-resident, 133,675 s/f, four-story luxury home, located on 6.2 bucolic Lower Hudson Valley acres at 250 Lafayette Ave., a picturesque village within the town of Ramapo. Braemar also offers a unit dedicated to serving residents with dementia and memory loss. The 133 apartments are fully furnished and feature kitchenettes and private bathrooms, and safety and monitoring systems.

The total development cost of the project is $54 million, including $36 million in construction costs. The owner/developer is a partnership between FilBen Group and RSF Partners, a private equity firm based in Dallas, TX. M&T Bank provided a $34.8 million construction loan. Through the Rockland County IDA, the development received sales and mortgage recording tax exemptions. Braemar is a brand of FilBen-owned and operated senior-living communities.

“This beautiful property has already attracted interest from numerous senior residents and families from Rockland County, Lower Hudson Valley, the greater New York area, New Jersey and as far as Massachusetts and North Carolina,” said Richard Filaski, managing director of FilBen Group.

The community offers multiple dining, entertainment and wellness opportunities, including a restaurant/dining room, coffee shop, pub, game rooms, fitness and wellness centers, art studio, library, beauty salon, childcare room, and outdoor activity spaces. The community provides healthcare services through a partnership of its in-house wellness department and a licensed home care services agency (LHCSA).

“M&T is proud to support the development of Braemar at Montebello and bring this facility to our community,” said Kristina Hendrickson, senior relationship manager, healthcare, M&T Bank.

According to FilBen Group’s director of sales, Danielle DiBenedetto, “20 residents have already moved in and we receive dozens of inquiries daily. Many families tour the property every day and enthusiastically praise the quality of the design and amenities, especially in comparison to other senior communities in the region.

Architecture and interior design

“The Victorian-style architecture of buildings in the surrounding area provided the design inspiration for the Braemar’s façade. The building incorporates large areas of glazing that draw natural light into all of the interiors and offer stunning views of the surrounding areas,” said Mark McKee, AIA, H2M senior architect.

“The building plan has a central section and two symmetrical wings. A porte-cochère and circular vehicular drop off are centered in the south façade on the main level, on grade with the main parking lot to the south and a staff parking lot and service entrance to the east. Active outdoor resident areas are located at both the north and south building facades, while hiking paths span the grounds,” said JF Nolan & Associates principal John Nolan.

A total of 133 residential units – 66 private, one-person studio units of approximately 400 s/f each, 14 one-bedroom units with open concept living room and 53 two-bedroom semi-private “friendship” units. Of these, 12 private and 10 friendship units, totaling 32-beds, are in the memory care section located on the lower terrace level.

According to FilBen’s in-house designer and manager of development, Jessica Cotellese, “The interior design inspiration came from the environment, including the water and proximity to the Hudson River and lush greenery of the various local state parks. There are accents of ceramic tile and wood paneling layered with organic and geometric fabric patterns, which evoke comforts of a well-appointed private home.”

The building features shared public spaces on three levels. The visitor entrance on the main level leads into a two-story, 22-ft. high cathedral-ceilinged atrium with a grand staircase that extends to the second level.

Along the south façade, a pub and game room offer lounge seating, game tables, a fireplace, televisions, and direct access to a billiard room. The pub opens onto the south terrace. Additional shared social spaces include a café, business lounge, general store, arts and crafts room, family lounge with an adjacent children’s room, beauty salon, private dining room, café, library, cinema, chapel, fitness center and wellness center.