CHEER breaks ground for more senior apartments

New administration building included

Tossing dirt for the project are (l-r) Matt Heckles, Delaware State Housing Authority director; Sen. Dave Wilson, R-Lincoln; CHEER CEO Beckett Wheatley; Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown; board member Walter Koopman; Georgetown Mayor Bill West; John Scheetz, vice president CHEER board; and board members Marlene Brown, Andy Hartstein and Jane Hovington. MELISSA STEELE PHOTOS

Gateway East Apartment 1 is the first of four apartment buildings that will be built for senior housing next to the CHEER Center on Sand Hill Road. Speaking at the podium is Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown. CHEER CEO Beckett Wheatley is next to him.

Melissa Steele

November 1, 2025

Event Date:

Thu, 10/30/2025 - 09:15 am

Georgetown dignitaries and senior-living advocates gathered Oct. 28, to break ground on the first of four senior apartment buildings to be built alongside the CHEER Center on Sand Hill Road.

“CHEER is expanding its vision for what it means to age,” said Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, addressing a couple dozen people gathered for the event.

Gateway East Apartment 1 is the first of four buildings that officials said will add 300 senior-living units for low- to moderate-income residents.

“The best thing we can do is make sure the people that we have don’t fall into homelessness,” said Matt Heckles, director of the Delaware State Housing Authority.

In addition to the apartments, a new 8,000-square-foot administrative building will be built, which will allow more room in the current center for activities and programs.