Why East Islip Lanes is Being Replaced by Senior Care

Benchmark Senior Living and National Development are set to begin construction on an 88,000-square-foot senior living community in East Islip, Long Island, following the closure of the East Islip Lanes bowling alley. The project will provide 90 units of assisted living and memory care to address the needs of a regional population where the number of residents aged 65 and older has grown by nearly 20% in recent years. This development highlights a strategic expansion in the senior housing sector to meet high demand despite a nationwide slowdown in new construction starts.

The upcoming 88,000-square-foot facility, known as Benchmark at East Islip, will feature 104 licensed beds across 64 assisted living apartments and 26 memory care units. Site preparation is scheduled to begin in July, with full-scale construction mobilization slated for August and an anticipated opening date in 2028. This project marks Benchmark’s third community on Long Island, joining Whisper Woods of Smithtown and Orchard Estate of Woodbury, and represents a continued partnership with National Development to expand high-quality care options in the Northeast.

The development comes at a critical time for the Long Island market, where the population of residents aged 65 and above grew by more than 19% between 2015 and 2023. Lisa Newcomb, executive director of the Empire State Association of Assisted Living, noted that while development slowed significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, the need-driven nature of the industry has only intensified as more than 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day. Despite this demand, a report from Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. indicates that while 86% of investors want to increase senior housing exposure, actual construction starts have faced nationwide headwinds in recent years.

To honor the site’s history as a local landmark, Benchmark plans to incorporate interior design elements inspired by the former East Islip Lanes bowling alley, which will be demolished to make way for the new structure. The project moved forward despite some community concerns regarding traffic and neighborhood fit, with developers adjusting site plans to include less on-site parking than the previous commercial use. Tom Grape, founder, chairman, and CEO of Benchmark Senior Living, emphasized that the new facility will support the local economy through job creation and provide essential services that allow older adults to remain close to their families within the community.