Key Takeaways
- • Benchmark Senior Living and National Development acquired an East Islip, New York property to develop Benchmark at East Islip, a 90-unit senior living community combining 64 assisted living and 26 memory care apartments with 104 licensed beds across approximately 88,000 square feet.
- • The project represents the second Long Island partnership between Benchmark and National Development, building on their existing Whisper Woods of Smithtown community launched in 2024, and expands Benchmark's footprint to six operating or in-development communities across New York and New England.
- • Construction begins July 2026 with a targeted opening in 2028; the development will feature dual dining venues, a theater, fitness center, on-site salon, and landscaped outdoor amenities, with interior design elements inspired by the site's predecessor, East Islip Lanes bowling alley.
- • The East Islip location, positioned 45 miles east of Manhattan and adjacent to retail, dining, and municipal services, capitalizes on Long Island's established senior living demand in a strategically accessible market position.
Summary
Benchmark Senior Living and National Development announced the joint acquisition and financing of an East Islip property on Long Island's South Shore, to be developed as Benchmark at East Islip, a 90-unit senior living community scheduled to open in 2028. The partnership represents a continuation of the developers' collaboration, which began with Whisper Woods of Smithtown in 2024, and signals accelerating expansion into the Long Island market by Benchmark, a leading senior living operator in the Northeast.
The proposed community will comprise 64 assisted living apartments and 26 memory care units, totaling 104 licensed beds within an approximately 88,000-square-foot, two-story structure. Construction is set to commence in July 2026. The facility will incorporate comprehensive amenities designed for both therapeutic and lifestyle engagement, including multiple dining venues, a theater, fitness center, on-site salon, and landscaped outdoor spaces. Notably, interior design elements will reference East Islip Lanes, the bowling alley formerly occupying the site, integrating local character into the community's identity.
The East Islip site benefits from proximity to Manhattan (approximately 45 miles) while maintaining central positioning relative to local commercial activity, with adjacent retail shops, restaurants, and postal services enhancing resident accessibility and convenience. This strategic geographic placement aligns with demographic demand patterns on Long Island's South Shore, a region with established senior living market penetration. The acquisition brings Benchmark's total portfolio to 70 communities across New England and the Mid-Atlantic, with the addition of Benchmark at East Islip representing the company's expanding commitment to the New York market, where it currently operates Benchmark at Mount Pleasant in Thornwood and Orchard Estate of Woodbury.
The proposed community will comprise 64 assisted living apartments and 26 memory care units, totaling 104 licensed beds within an approximately 88,000-square-foot, two-story structure. Construction is set to commence in July 2026. The facility will incorporate comprehensive amenities designed for both therapeutic and lifestyle engagement, including multiple dining venues, a theater, fitness center, on-site salon, and landscaped outdoor spaces. Notably, interior design elements will reference East Islip Lanes, the bowling alley formerly occupying the site, integrating local character into the community's identity.
The East Islip site benefits from proximity to Manhattan (approximately 45 miles) while maintaining central positioning relative to local commercial activity, with adjacent retail shops, restaurants, and postal services enhancing resident accessibility and convenience. This strategic geographic placement aligns with demographic demand patterns on Long Island's South Shore, a region with established senior living market penetration. The acquisition brings Benchmark's total portfolio to 70 communities across New England and the Mid-Atlantic, with the addition of Benchmark at East Islip representing the company's expanding commitment to the New York market, where it currently operates Benchmark at Mount Pleasant in Thornwood and Orchard Estate of Woodbury.
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