Magnolia Place of Cairo has plans to expand by 15 beds

A zoning change approved Monday night by the Cairo City Council will clear the way for an expansion of Magnolia Place of Cairo assisted living center.
Magnolia Place has held a license for a 50-bed facility since 1997 and owner Jerry (Jay) McDaniel III, has plans to expand the assisted living facility. Currently, Magnolia Place has 35 beds.
According to McDaniel, an 8,000 to 10,000 square foot wing will be added to the north of the existing structure where facility parking is currently located.
The proposed new wing will feature a state-of-the art memory care unit for residents suffering from memory loss. The new wing will accommodate an additional 15 beds and architecturally will look the same as the existing structure.
“A memory care unit is where the real demand is today. The new wing will be located right north of the existing building and connected to the main facility by a breezeway,” McDaniel said.
“We have preliminary plans drawn, but now we will finalize those and will begin to look at financing options,” McDaniel said Tuesday.
The Magnolia Place owner said he hopes to break ground on the new facility in 2016.
McDaniel was recently able to acquire some adjoining property, which was zoned R1-A single-family residential, and the remainder of his property is zoned C-1A restricted office-institutional district.
The city council unanimously approved the rezoning request on the recommendation of the Cairo Planning Commission and the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission.
McDaniel says the additional property will allow for the parking area to be moved to make room for the new addition.
“I was really excited Monday night and appreciate the city council approving our request. I’m hoping an expansion will be our 2016 goal,” McDaniel said.