Aviva breaks ground on expansion

Just a few weeks after being named the new CEO of Aviva, A Campus for Senior Life, Lakewood Ranch resident Jay Solomon helped usher in the senior living community’s next chapter.

The Jewish Housing Council Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Housing Council, broke ground April 6 on a new multi-purpose community room for Aviva, Sarasota’s only rental senior living community, offering a full continuum of care with independent, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing and rehabilitation options.

The room will be used not only for Aviva educational and entertainment events, but also for use by the community. The room will be named The Kretzmer Center at Aviva, in honor of Sarasota philanthropist Ernest Kretzmer, the lead donor on the project.

Solomon came to Aviva as an interim CEO in January from CentraState Healthcare System in New Jersey, where he served since 2001. He was named the official CEO of Aviva in March.

“He is uniquely qualified to serve as CEO and build upon our progress and success as we rebrand ourselves from Kobernick to Aviva,” said Randy Mallitz, president of Aviva’s operating board. “Jay joins us as we begin our 2017 expansion and program enhancements, after just completing a $1.4 million renovation program. We are confident Jay will help us continue to grow and reinforce our reputation as the leading continuum of care senior facility in the Sarasota-Manatee community.”

Solomon also plans to help Aviva work more closely with other community organizations, including The Jewish Federation of Sarasota and Jewish Family and Children’s Service of the Suncoast, Inc., according to Mallitz.

Aviva is located at 1951 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota. It was called Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson before being rebranded earlier this year.