St. John’s Senior Communities on Wednesday night received the final signoff from the Brighton Planning Board to build a 16-acre senior housing community on Elmwood Avenue. Construction of the $33 million project is slated to begin in 30 to 60 days.

Victor-based Christa Construction LLC is building the 102-unit campus, which will include apartments and lofts, one-story bungalows and townhouses located around existing wetlands, officials said. The property also will include a retail component.

The planning board had concerns about the retail plans and their potential incongruity with the mainly residential neighborhood. Also of concern was environmental preservation.

“We’ve worked with the various town boards to ensure that our plans will be approved, especially because Brickstone will be a highly visible and desirable place to live for active seniors and a convenient destination for area residents for shopping, gathering and socializing” said Charlie Runyon, CEO of St. John’s.

The upscale Brickstone project targets residents 55 and older looking to trade home-ownership for apartment or condominium living. The development is planned to incorporate New Urbanism design principles including walking trails set among naturalistic landscape features and a centrally located village square building overlooking a pond.

The village square building is intended to house shops and restaurants and to serve as a neighborhood center open to area residents as well Brickstone tenants.

Christa anticipates a 16-month construction schedule, which is expected to include 450 to 500 construction jobs. Groundbreaking is slated for next month.

The residential units, all of which will be available on a rental basis, will be built in phases. Apartments should be completed with the first 10 months, followed by the townhouse and bungalows.

Architectual Illustration ©: Art Associates, Inc.