County officials gathered recently to ceremonially break ground on a long-sought additional wing to Lehigh County’s Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehab complex near Dorney Park in Allentown.

Lehigh County Commissioner President Geoff Brace said, “This endeavor spans over a decade.”

Brace thanked officials and “the taxpayers of Lehigh County.”

“Cedarbrook has enjoyed bipartisan support,” said Brace. “It is a moral obligation.”

The project’s architect, Michael Allen-Hall, vice president of Noelker and Hull Associates Inc., said the 142,500-square foot, four story building will cost about $54 million.

He said construction plans are “on schedule” and are pending “final permits.”

The addition will have room for 240 single-occupant “nursing rooms,” each with its own “European” shower, Allen-Hall said.

He said a European shower is one that a resident in a wheelchair would be able to maneuver into.

The Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehab facility is spread over two campuses. One is in Allentown which is getting the new wing, and the other is in Fountain Hill.

The two campuses are 670 beds. The new addition, while accommodating 240 beds, will not add to the total because the new facility will allow those beds to be moved into the new wing. The old rooms, which are housed in very old buildings, some dating back to 1845, will be converted to administrative use.

The old standard of four residents to a room is being phased out and replaced by one resident to each room.

“Four to a room makes no sense,” said Lehigh County Facilities Director Richard Molchany in remarks at the dedication.

The Allentown campus will have 473 beds, Molchany said.

“It’s about our most vulnerable residents,” said Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong, addressing the crowd of mostly employees and political leaders.

He said the nursing home has a “four-star rating.”

Jean Larison, a resident of Cedarbrook, maneuvered her wheelchair from its place in the row of dignitaries to speak. She put her sentiments into verse.

“So, when I could no longer remain on my own/ Cedarbrook was the only place I felt I could call home./I’m happy here and have seen many changes/But this new wing is the biggest one yet./As President of the Resident Council, I’ve had the privilege to cut ribbons before/ But now the groundbreaking will make memories galore.”