Venice senior living community reveals 50-acre satellite campus plan

A Venice senior living community that spent $21.5 million earlier this year to buy 50 acres on East Venice Avenue has unveiled its plans for a satellite campus there.

Village on the Isle, based at 920 S. Tamiami Trail, is planning an independent living neighborhood about 6 miles away at 2705 E. Venice Ave. Called Arbor Vita, the campus will have 130 apartments and 50 cottages. 

"We've seen a noticeable increase in demand for independent living over the last several years," Director of Marketing and Sales Matt Cohen says in an email, responding to a question from the Business Observer about what is driving the project. "More older adults are choosing to make a move earlier, while they're still active and independent, because they want the lifestyle, amenities and peace of mind that come with living in a community that can support them as their needs change."

Among the amenities will be a water feature, kayak launch, zero-entry pool, tennis and pickleball courts, golf simulator, chapel, billiards room, dog park and expansive outdoor green spaces. The fitness center and spa will include a sauna, hot tub, halotherapy and cold plunge. In addition, several restaurant-style venues will offer casual and fine dining.

“The community will provide residents with the perfect mix of independence and connection and offer resort-style amenities, social activities and more," Village On the Isle CEO Doug Feller says in a statement.

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Opening in August, the Arbor Vita sales office will be at 901 Venetia Bay Blvd., Suite 300, in Venice. The community is currently accepting members for its Priority Club, who will have the first choice to select residences when they become available.

Floor plans will include one-bedroom apartments from 950 to nearly 1,200 square feet; two-bedroom apartments with or without den ranging from nearly 900 to 2,300 square feet; and cottages from 1,450 to 1,800 square feet.

Arbor Vita is expected to break ground in 2028 and be completed in 2030. Village On The Isle declined to disclose the projected development cost for its satellite campus.

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Offering residents a continuum of care, Village On The Isle has 234 independent living, 48 assisted living and 16 memory care units as well as 64 skilled nursing beds at its main Venice campus, which is less than 0.5 mile from the Gulf. A $78 million expansion project — including two residential buildings that will add 54 independent living units and a 9,200-square-foot wellness center — began in 2025 and is nearing completion. Both residential buildings were 100% presold, according to a statement from Village On The Isle.

The nonprofit community is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Southwest Florida Retirement Center, the official name of the nonprofit doing business as Village On The Isle, had 336 employees and $34.6 million in revenue in 2024.