FRANKLIN—Three months after the announcement and groundbreaking, the site work has begun for the memory care center at The Village at Woods Edge in Franklin.

Mike Sprinkel, general contractor for E.T. Gresham Co., confirmed the start date was Sept. 17. He anticipates the project will be completed 10 months from now.

Meanwhile, “there’s a whole lot of preliminary work” before the foundation and structure go up, said Sprinkel.

Some examples he gave are the rerouting of storm and sewer lines, extending power lines above and below from nearby Southampton Memorial Hospital, as well as relocating the emergency generator.

The idea for the memory care facility began two years ago, VWE Executive Director Rhonda Stewart said at the announcement. Details planning and studying made the case for the addition.

There will be 16 new apartments in the addition, with a “home-like setting,” said Stewart.

On completion, the center will be devoted to quality care of people with dementia issues.

The facility will be named after Asa V. Johnson Jr., VWE board chairman since 1998. The honor marks Johnson’s service to the Village, where he also lives, as well as the hospital and community.