Senior Housing Development Case Studies

Congregational Senior Housing: Luther Park at Sandpoint, Idaho

Luther Park expands First Lutheran Church of Sandpoint’s ministry and its intergenerational community. Ecumen managed the market analysis, architectural planning and construction and now manages daily operations for First Lutheran Church of Sandpoint.

Luther Park features senior independent living and apartments with assisted living services, and memory care. It has an indoor link to the church and preschool, grand fireplace gathering area, library and media center, community meeting rooms, a beauty and barber shop and walking paths.

Luther Park was designed to take advantage of the views of the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains. Luther Park features proactive GE QuietCare technology to enhance customers’ independence and help identify health issues before they grow into emergencies.

Hospitals and Senior Housing: North Country Health Services, Bemidji, Minn.

Hospitals and other health care providers are creating wellness communities by integrating senior housing and services to their services. As an example, Ecumen is developing senior housing for North Country Health Services in Bemidji, Minn., which provides a lifetime continuum of health care services. Ecumen managed the market analysis, architectural planning and construction.

North Country’s senior housing is being developed to LEED-Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards and could become one of the country’s few LEED-certified senior housing communities. It will include independent living, assisted living, and memory care. The senior housing community will connect to North Country Health Services nursing home, creating an integrated, and easy-access health care setting.

Green features include geothermal heating, underground parking, which lessens impervious space and reduces water use, energy-efficient lighting, and use of many locally harvested materials.

Senior Housing and Services Repositioning: Lakeshore, Duluth, Minn.

Ecumen transformed an outdated 1950s-style nursing home into a new multi-faceted senior housing community, located on the shore of Lake Superior with vistas of the lake and famed Canal Park in Duluth.

Lakeshore features several distinct neighborhoods:  The Crest (60 independent living apartments), The Shores (60 assisted living apartments and memory care), which features proactive QuietCare technology and The Fountains (60 private suites for rehabilitation).

Cascade Plaza is the site of Cascade Café, where Lakeshore residents, neighbors and others in the community meet for a sandwich, salad or other delicacy.  The Cascade Plaza features chapel and areas for community events, such as Rotary Club or a dinner party.