“Flagstone” was unveiled as the name of the newest Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS) senior living community in the Twin Cities metro area. Local business and civic leaders joined PHS leadership to celebrate the official groundbreaking of Flagstone. The ceremony began at Castle Ridge senior living community, located on Prairie Center Drive, and continued with a gathering at Green Acres event center, which is also in Eden Prairie.
The new senior living community will be located on 6.84 acres on the southwest corner of Castlemoor Drive and Columbine Road, overlooking the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area. Flagstone—a name inspired by the uniquely shaped and durable landscaping stone—will offer a path to a robust lifestyle that promotes individuality, creativity and strength for older adults to live well every day.
Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case thanked those present and shared his excitement for the project saying, “I think of what Presbyterian Homes brings to this community as it meets and addresses people’s needs in the later years of their life but also offers them such a new and incredible [building] to live in.” The mayor spoke about how Flagstone fits well within the city’s housing goals. The project aligns with the Aspire Eden Prairie 2040 Land Use Plan, specifically the stated goal to, “Promote senior housing opportunities that increase housing choices.”
Plans for Flagstone include a transformation of Castle Ridge—building on the skilled care services that have been its hallmark for over 40 years. The campus will be expanded to offer a full continuum of housing and care options. Flagstone will be built within a master planned redevelopment featuring market rate apartments, and retail/commercial businesses.
“We’re excited to have the opportunity to expand our ministry and mission in Eden Prairie and to serve residents and families in the surrounding communities,” said Jon Fletcher, Vice President of Senior Housing Partners. He recalled the history of the project, which began in 2003 when Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS) acquired Castle Ridge, which offers assisted living suites and a skilled nursing care center. At that time, PHS envisioned a long-term goal of redeveloping and expanding the community to offer a full continuum of care.
“This project has been 17 years in the making. During that time, we’ve developed a master plan not once but twice,” he recalled. In 2008, PHS purchased additional acreage to assemble a 19.5 acre swath of land to develop a new senior living community as part of a master plan project. Plans that have been on the board for over a decade are now coming to fruition envisioning market rate apartments, retail and commercial businesses located on lots in proximity to the senior housing.
Fletcher extended appreciation to the city leaders for working with PHS over the years through to the final plan. He also said thank you to the community groups and services that have helped with the transition and to the organizations involved in the design and construction. “It takes a village to build a project like this,” he said.
Dan Lindh, President and CEO of PHS said, “The population and the needs of the community are changing and as they change, we want to be responsive to meet those needs and to do it in a way that is multi-generational.” He spoke of how PHS intends to participate in the growing vibrancy of Eden Prairie generated by housing turnovers to a younger generation and supporting older adults who wish to remain near their families.
Over the summer, the Broadmoor Apartment building, owned by PHS, was vacated and demolished to make way for construction of the new community. When complete in fall 2021, Flagstone will offer 148 senior independent apartments, 40 assisted living and 18 memory care apartments and 72 care center suites. The living options at Flagstone will allow residents to remain within the community if their health or living needs change.
At the heart of the community will be a two-story Town Center offering an array of amenities and services including community gathering spaces, a chapel, bistro, wellness center and more. A large fifth floor party room/terrace will afford sweeping views of Eden Prairie. Two courtyards above the underground heated parking garage will provide convenient access for all residents to exterior amenities including gardens, a grilling area, outdoor seating, walking paths, a pickleball court and putting green, and views of Purgatory Creek.
Residents living at Castle Ridge will be the first to move to the new apartments and care center suites. Molly Pahl, Campus Administrator at Castle Ridge, expressed the enthusiasm of the staff, residents and their families. “I speak on behalf of all the residents and staff when I say that we are beyond excited for the future building. We’re also eager to have the opportunity to serve more seniors,” she said.
Once vacated, the existing Castle Ridge building will be demolished to make way for other components of the master plan.
The new building, designed by St. Paul based InSite Architects, will feature a sophisticated urban architectural design to complement the neighboring retail buildings and multi-family housing. Senior Lifestyle Design will design and finish the interior spaces. Adolfson & Peterson Construction, based in Minneapolis, MN is the general contractor for the senior housing project and financing has been arranged through Hamlin Capital Advisors, based in Tampa, FL
Persons inquiring about Flagstone or who wish to be placed on the interest list may contact Deniz Stanton, SHP Regional Marketing Manager, at (651) 631-6397 or [email protected]. Visit www.FlagstonePHS.org for more information.
