New plaza at Juneau Pioneer Home with vista views nearing completion
- Laurie Craig
- Oct 12
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 13
Outdoor space also features windbreaks, landscaping, other installations
By Laurie Craig
Juneau Independent
A new outdoor plaza for Juneau Pioneer Home residents is nearly complete, except for handrails
When next summer’s warmth entices the residents of Juneau’s Pioneer Home to enjoy fresh air and sunshine they will have some protection from the breeze. Several windbreak structures surround a new courtyard which has been under construction during summer of 2025.
“Ninety percent of the project is now complete,” wrote Juneau Pioneer Home administrator Emily Palmer in a Sept. 15 email to the Juneau Independent. “We are waiting for handrails to be manufactured and delivered to Juneau. Once they are delivered, the contractors will need 1-2 weeks to get them installed.”
“Unfortunately, we do not have a timeline for delivery,” Palmer added regarding the handrails. “It may be three to four months before they arrive.”
Once installed, the Alaska Department of Family and Community Services facility staff will plan for an opening and dedication.
The State of Alaska owns and operates six licensed assisted living homes around the state. Sitka opened the first Pioneer Home in 1913. Additional senior centers are Fairbanks, Ketchikan, Anchorage and the Alaska Veterans and Pioneer Home in Palmer. Juneau’s residential building was completed in 1988, according to the state’s website.
• Contact Laurie Craig at lauriec@juneauindependent.com.
Additional photos from the Juneau Pioneer Home’s plaza renovation. (All by Laurie Craig / Juneau Independent)
