Out on Highway 329 in Crestwood, a different kind of apartment job is getting started. Pillar, a nonprofit that has supported people with disabilities for nearly 40 years, held a groundbreaking on Sept. 23 for Choice Landing, a 72-unit community built for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who want to live on their own.
According to Pillar's announcement, which went out over Business Wire, Choice Landing is a $22 million project. The money comes from Kentucky Housing Corporation tax credits, a $6 million appropriation from the Kentucky General Assembly and a $1 million Community Development Block Grant. Pillar said construction was expected to begin by October, and the first tenants are expected in early 2028.
The address is 7408 Highway 329, just off Interstate 71, according to the Choice Landing website, which describes the complex as "state-of-the-art" and built for independent living at an affordable price.
A higher bar than code
This is the part builders will want to pay attention to. Choice Landing is planned to be the first community in Kentucky with Kelsey Certification. According to Pillar, that standard goes beyond the minimum building code and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it covers accessibility throughout a building's design, development and operations, not just a few features added at the end.
The certification also requires input from a peer advisory board. Pillar's board members are Sarah Malone, Peter Campbell and Alicia Rexroat, who already live in one of Pillar's existing communities.
"Throughout the planning and design process, we were able to bring a peer advisory group into the process, incorporating firsthand experiences and perspectives into the apartments themselves," said Alex Campbell, chairman of Pillar's board. He said the apartments "will support 72 individuals in living on their own, who would not be able to do so otherwise," while easing the strain on the state.
The finished community will have front desk staff on site around the clock, optional technology support to help residents stay independent, weekly rides to go shopping, community activities and green space. Residents will also be able to get extra services such as day training and community living support. The project website says Choice Landing is designed so residents can get the support they need without requiring the state's Supports for Community Living (SCL) waiver.
"Choice Landing has been a labor of love, and we are thrilled to help it come to life," said Karri Gerdemann, Pillar's executive director. "Choice Landing is about giving individuals a place where they can live with independence and create a safe and supportive community, where everyone truly feels at home." She thanked the General Assembly and Speaker Osborne for their support.
Who's involved
The groundbreaking drew a crowd from Frankfort and the county. House Speaker David Osborne, state Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, Oldham County Judge-Executive David Voegele and Sara Gibson of Kentucky Housing Corporation's multifamily programs were all on hand, along with Pillar's leadership.
On the design side, Forst & Associates Consulting Engineers said in a public post that it's providing the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering, and that it has partnered with Pillar and Work Architecture on several similar projects. Pillar's announcement doesn't name a general contractor, and we couldn't confirm one in a free, publicly readable source, so we're not naming one here.
People interested in living there can join a waitlist at choicelanding.org.
Why it matters for Contractors
Supportive housing like this is a growing niche, and Choice Landing shows how it gets paid for: a stack of state housing credits, a direct legislative appropriation and federal block grant money. Contractors who already know their way around tax credit jobs, with the cost certifications and reporting that come with them, will have a leg up on projects like this one.
The Kelsey standard is the bigger lesson. Going past ADA means thinking about door hardware, reach ranges, lighting, acoustics, wayfinding and technology from day one, and it rewards crews that pay close attention to detail. Kentucky contractors who learn this work on the first certified project in the state will be in good shape as more nonprofits and developers chase the same standard. Oldham County is growing fast along the I-71 corridor, and a 72-unit building with a long construction run is solid work for local site, framing, MEP, finish and low-voltage trades.