Sholom Home site to be brought to life as a new senior housing facility

By DEBORAH BROTZ

The Sholom East site building will soon be brought back to life. Plans to renovate and establish a senior housing facility at the location will soon be under way.

When the Sholom Alliance sold The Sholom East site building to Traditions SP Land, LLC, on June 6, 2011, the purchaser announced renovation plans for a senior housing facility. But, in August 2012, due to a holdup in the financing for the renovation, the building was added to St. Paul’s Vacant Building Program. Four months ago, a new ownership group was formed, which will be going ahead with renovation plans for a senior housing facility.

When the building was first sold, a senior housing facility was the best choice for the building.

“That has been the building’s historic use,” said Rhett McSweeney, principal developer for Senior Investors, LCC. “For the principals in the company, that was the intent from the start.”

McSweeney projects there will be approximately 155 units of senior housing with a range of independent to assisted living. In addition to a memory unit, there will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. Renovations are needed in order to have senior housing at the location.

“The type of senior services that will be provided are a lot different than what was offered at Sholom Home,” said McSweeney. “They had near to 300 beds. We’re going to have 155. Instead of nursing home rooms, we’ll have some bedroom dementia units, some one- and two-bedroom units, some independent living units, and some assisted living units.”

The building was added to St. Paul’s Vacant Building Program due to time constraints in getting all the permits.

“All the permits haven’t been pulled to do the conversion,” said McSweeney. “It’s a pretty wide open designation. Before we start construction, we have to have a global walk through with all the departments in the City. We do it all together.”

A new ownership group was formed to develop the property.

“The existing ownership had decided they wanted to sell the project rather than develop it on their own,” said McSweeney. “So, the new ownership group has an option on the property to be the end developer.”

Ebenezer Homes was chosen by the new ownership group to run the facility.

“They were chosen because of their well-respected reputation in the Twin Cities,” said McSweeney. “They are the premiere provider of senior housing with services. They’re part of Fairview Health Services. They are the top provider in the state. We’re very excited to have them come to Como Park.”

The renovated building will have 40 memory-dementia units, 80 assisted living units, and 35 independent living units.

“Every part of the building will get touched,” said McSweeney. “It will include all the mechanical and all the electrical and some renovations to the exterior. There will be all new flooring, ceiling tiles, and lighting. It will be like a brand-new building. It will be great for the neighborhood and the whole area.

We’re excited.”

Renovation is expected to begin sometime this summer, in June or July.

“There is a vital need in the community as it gets older to provide a place for seniors to get care,” said McSweeney. “It’s an opportunity to add a lot of value to the community and to build a strong business. If we can help people and find a way to make a living doing it, it’s a wonderful combination.”

At a January 2013 Community Council Meeting, McSweeney indicated that he would stay in touch with District 10 with updates on the project. He also said, “If I failed you as a neighbor in the past, I won’t fail you again.”

“I had some issues with the neighbors and transient people hanging out on the property, not getting rid of snow, and issues with the back lawn,” he said. “If we haven’t addressed it in the past, it won’t be the case in the future. We’re monitoring the property at a pretty high level right now.”

McSweeney hopes the neighborhood will be pleased with the renovated building.

“We hope that we’ll make the build out first class, get it filled up, and provide the best care in St. Paul for the next 30 years,” he said.