Former assisted living site in Medina being renovated into apartments

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 9 January 2025 at 8:20 am

Vitality Village will have 18 upscale one-bedroom and studio apartments

Photo by Ginny Kropf: The former Applegate Manor at left and medical building at right are being repurposed by new owners, Joe and Jacquie Morgante. Applegate will reopen this summer as upscale one-bedroom and studio apartments, while the other building will house medical professional offices.

MEDINA – A former assisted living complex on Ohio Street is seeing new life, as renovations progress to turn it into high-end apartments.

Applegate Manor closed after Covid-19 in 2020 and was sold to Eric Watson Enterprises, whose intentions were to develop it, until Joe and Jacquie Morgante of Clarence made an offer to buy it.

The Morgantes had already bought The Willows, which they run with her niece Jordan.

“Jacquie and I have been investing in real estate in Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties for the past five or six years, including The Willows,” Joe said.

The Morgantes purchased Applegate in August 2023, and spent six months planning a design. Relentless Construction of Holley was hired to do the work.

As an assisted living complex, Applegate had 24 rooms. The new space will be called Vitality Village and offer 18 upscale one-bedroom and studio apartments.

Courtesy of Vitality Village: This rendering shows the design for Vitality Village, which is expected to open in July.

The interior has now been gutted down to the studs, Joe said. Each apartment will be named after a Medina landmark, such as the Sandstone Suite, Oak Orchard Retreat and Boxwood Garden Loft.

An artist’s rendering of the rooms and prices can be found on the website www.vitalityvillagemedina.com.

A separate commercial building next to the residential unit, nearer the street, will be called Vital Village Feel Your Best Center and will house medical offices. Joe hopes to fill it with medical professionals, such as a chiropractor, physical therapist, dentist, etc.

The plan is to open the residence first, hopefully by July, followed by the office complex in September.

“It has been great so far being in business in Medina,” Joe said. “The town has been very supportive, helping us with construction.”