Lake Forest Senior Living plans would bring 222 apartments and new places to gather to McKinney, with a community garden, fitness center, and commercial space among the proposed features. The $63 million development is planned at 4656 W. University Drive, near Lake Forest Drive and US 380.
For older residents looking for an affordable apartment and a community around them, the proposal offers something beyond a new address. Its plans pair independent living with spaces for hobbies, exercise, and time with neighbors.
Lake Forest Senior Living puts community at the center
Presented during zoning as Forest View Senior Housing, the development includes a craft room, community garden, fitness center, and outdoor gathering areas. The developer’s letter of intent describes an affordable independent senior community, with all apartments rent-restricted and income targeting averaging 60% of area median income.
The April proposal called for residents 55 and older. Final leasing qualifications and rental rates have not been announced.
The construction filing divides the homes among three buildings. One would contain 72 apartments alongside retail space and a clubhouse. Two matching residential buildings would each have 75 apartments. Four garage buildings and a maintenance building round out the project.
Room for neighborhood businesses
The earlier proposal includes 7,853 square feet of commercial space. Potential uses include medical offices, shops, personal services, and restaurants. Those businesses could serve residents and the surrounding neighborhood, giving the development a role beyond housing.
A clubhouse in the mixed-use building would add another shared space within the community. Together with the garden and activity rooms, it would give residents several ways to spend time close to home.
Where Lake Forest Senior Living would take shape
The roughly 10.5-acre tract sits north of University Drive and east of Lake Forest Drive, behind existing businesses along US 380. Painted Tree homes border the property to the north. McKinney City Council approved the project’s rezoning on May 19, 2026, according to the city’s zoning record.
The site falls within McKinney’s Medical District, which centers on Baylor Scott & White Medical Center. City planners describe the district as a place for housing, healthcare, and complementary businesses.
The developer also proposed preserving roughly three to four acres of floodplain as greenspace. That would retain an open area alongside the new residential buildings.
Lake Forest Senior Living construction timeline
The state construction filing lists 247,383 square feet of new construction, with work scheduled to begin March 1, 2027, and finish November 1, 2028. That is the planned construction window; an opening date has not been announced.
Kayasa Holdings is listed as the owner, and Able City is the design firm. The development would add a substantial new senior housing option along one of McKinney’s major corridors, with affordability and shared community spaces central to its plans.