Senior homes under construction behind old E-Fitness building

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) – Almost 20 years after plans were approved by the city of Biloxi to build a community, development is finally progressing.

10 houses are now under construction behind the old E-Fitness building off Tribe Drive. Eventually, 50 will be built and sold to people aged 55 or older. The development is now known as The Retreat.

“This is the first community that I’m aware of that was specifically built in individual houses for seniors,” Jerry Creel, Biloxi’s Community Development Director said. “I think a lot of people will jump on these houses to take advantage of all the other amenities that will be available there when it is complete.”

Back in 2006, the city of Biloxi approved a planned development that would include homes, an apartment, and commercial space. Phase one of the project was the E-Fitness gym.

In 2016, the owner hadn’t pursued the next steps to bring the next steps of the development to life and closed the fitness center. The property sat dormant until 2022 when Lodging & Leisure Investments, LLC purchased the land.

Right now, the company uses the old gym as office space. Last week, it pulled permits to build the first set of homes geared towards seniors.

“The right developers, we believe, got a hold of this property,” Creel added. “We think they will do something that everybody will be impressed with once it is complete. It will add another energy in that area.”

WLOX News reached out to Lodging & Leisure Services for comment.

“This land has been a quiet part of our community for a really long time,” Tessy Lambert, the company’s chief marketing officer said. “It’s truly an honor to bring new life to it with The Retreat.”

She points to the centralized location and proximity to Biloxi High School, and the A.J. Holloway Sports Complex.

“You are close to everything. If you have grandchildren that are involved in sports at Biloxi, you’re right there, and you’re centrally located in the heart of Biloxi.”

So far, plans for an apartment complex and commercial retail have not been submitted to the city of Biloxi. Developers did not comment on when that might happen.

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