PAnews.com, Port Arthur, Texas

July 15, 2010

Assisted living, memory center coming to Port Neches

Mary Meaux
The Port Arthur News

PORT NECHES — A brand new assisted living facility and memory center is coming to Port Neches.

Richy Ethridge and business partner Perry Glover are the developers behind the facility that will be called Neches Oaks Senior Living.

Port Neches City Council approved a request to rezone from Kerry Trahan, doing business as A Church of Jesus the Lamb of God, 2517 Nall St., on Thursday, changing the zoning from church to medium business.

Ethridge, a commercial real estate investor, and Perry did some market research and found that Mid-County does not have any assisted living facilities/memory care centers and learned there is a need for such facilities.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to bring this back home to the community I am very fond of,” Ethridge said.

The plot of land on Nall Street is currently a vacant lot located across the street from a limousine business.

The facility will have a 45 unit area for assisted living and a 32 bed area for memory care in a secure wing, for a total of 77 beds.

Ethridge described the assisted living facility as a specially designed and managed community for people needing varying degrees of assistance with activities of daily living.

Neches Oaks Senior Living will boost a beauty salon, chapel, dining room, private dining room and also large activity room.

The facility will be a private pay and accept private insurance excluding Medicare and Medicaid.

Construction could began as early as in 90 to 120 days with a tentative opening date in mid-to late 2011.

mmeaux@panews.com