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Retirement home gets a makeover, holds grand re-opening
Rio Grande Gracious Retirement Living managers Lee and Lisa McDougald proudly cut their ribbon at the grad re-opening Oct. 17.
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RIO RANCHO — Worry-free living when people retire is hard to find, but now that Rio Grande Gracious Retirement Living has revamped its space, that won’t be as difficult for Rio Ranchoans.
Retirement living managers Lee and Lisa McDougald were gracious indeed Oct. 17 as they were celebrating the space’s improvement with a ribbon cutting.
Lisa says they remodeled pretty much all of the facility, from new paint to new carpet all the way down to new furniture.
“We finished that up in August. It was an April to August thing. We expected it a little faster, but it’s really nice,” she said.
She added that she and her husband ended up in Rio Rancho by accident, but it turned out to be a very happy accident.
Lee says they originally came from the Gulf Coast, where they had a beach.
“We were only coming here temporarily. But here we are. They call New Mexico the Land of Enchantment, but we call it the ‘Land of Entrapment.’ But we love it here. We’re used to the beach. Y’all have a big beach, but there’s not a lot of water around,” he said.
Lee says the investment in the retired living home turned out to be a great thing for them both.
“Whenever you make an investment, it’s almost like going to the casino and throwing the dice. For our company, this was a good bet,” he said.
The 55-plus community has been around for 12 years now, and the remodel is just the beginning of the next chapter for the area. Mayor Gregg Hull certainly thought so.
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“So over the years, we’ve seen Rio Grande Gracious Living just really transform this particular area. You guys were one of the first investors in the southern end of Rio Rancho out here on Westside Boulevard. You guys took the step forward, planted roots right here in Rio Rancho, and now you’re seeing the culmination of your investment,” Hull said.
He gestured toward some of the new developments along Westside Boulevard, including a new housing complex across the street and the pending Albertsons Market Street project, which recently began construction.
“It’s really sprung up all around you because what you guys had a vision to do here so many years ago, and we’re excited for your reinvestment,” he said.
Rio Rancho regional Chamber of Commerce President Jerry Schalow agreed.
“You guys keep on redefining yourselves, doing fabulous things, redeveloping the property, keep on expanding it. Just as the mayor said, this facility here continues to be a leader in the community. It’s one of the reasons why Rio Rancho for a number of years was recognized as one of the best places to retire,” he said.
For more information, visit seniorlivinginstyle.com.
