Developer outlines ‘Viva Bene’ active‑adult plan for North End phase 2

Avenue Development told Carmel’s Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Senior Living on July 23 that it plans an active‑adult, 55+ lifestyle community called Viva Bene as part of the North End phase 2 master plan recently approved by the city council.

Mike Mattingly, co‑founder and principal of Avenue Development, said the project aims to combine “attainability and socialization. Period.” He described Viva Bene as a modern active‑adult model that sits between Class A multifamily and independent living, offering amenities and a non‑licensed concierge navigation service to help residents coordinate health services.

Mattingly said the development is intended to help residents “age in place” by providing virtual and in‑person navigation to existing health providers rather than offering on‑site doctors. He said those navigation services are billed separately to payers or insurers, not included in base rent. He also highlighted lifestyle amenities such as pools and courts and presented the development’s proximity to the Monon Trail and nearby Fields Market as selling points.

Commission members pressed Mattingly on price and leasing timelines. Mattingly said the developer expects to break ground in mid‑September and estimated a leasing program that would begin roughly 15 months ahead of opening; he projected an opening in late 2027 to early 2028. Mattingly described leasing demand from other markets, saying one recently opened Viva Bene reached about 70 percent leased within roughly 180 days.

Panel members also asked how the project would handle residents who later need higher levels of care. Mattingly said navigators would help arrange transitions and that Avenue Development maintains local provider relationships, but he did not provide a firm policy on lease termination or lease transfer in cases where a resident requires assisted living or memory care; he said the exact lease terms and “breakage” in such events were “not specified” in his remarks.

Commissioners discussed affordability and the product’s place in Carmel’s housing mix. Mattingly said Avenue positions Viva Bene at a premium to conventional multifamily but aims to make the price point more attainable than higher‑acuity assisted living through the concierge value proposition and partnerships with value‑based care providers. He noted the project fills a component of Old Town Group’s North End master plan and showed renderings of the northern building and adjacent townhomes included in phase 2.

Mattingly also described planned connections to the Fields Market farm‑to‑table program and volunteer opportunities with neighboring organizations. The presentation closed with Mattingly inviting questions and sharing that he would send the presentation slides to commission staff.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the project during the meeting.