PRESS RELEASE – Beacon Hill at Eastgate began demolition of the vacant medical office building to make room for expansion
Residents and Eastgate Neighbors Invited to Celebrate Leveling the Non-Operational Building
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – November 20, 2019 . . .
Razing an empty, non-functional medical office building is the next step in Beacon Hill’s plan to build a 26-unit independent living residence immediately north of its existing housing structure. The ceremonial start of the demolition, with claw hammer machinery, began at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 20, with Beacon Hill residents, along with Eastgate neighbors, watching from warm, cozy locations throughout the independent living building at 1919 Boston, SE.
The process, however, began over six months ago with Beacon Hill CEO Jeff Huegli and a group of advisors, including planners, architects, builders, Beacon Hill residents, Eastgate Neighborhood Association board members, and nearby neighbors meeting to discuss plans to demolish the medical office building and expand residences.
Several steps were required to accomplish this, including a formal presentation to the Planning Commission of the City of Grand Rapids. Prior to that meeting, Huegli, along with a Rockford Construction planner and an architect from Ghafari Architects, presented the plans in two separate meetings—to Eastgate neighbors and to Beacon Hill residents. It was equally a listening session and presentation, taking the concerns and suggestions made at each meeting and making necessary adjustments.
The Planning Commission presentation occurred on Thursday, July 25, and was approved unanimously. The Grand Rapids City Commission also approved the plan a few weeks later.
The razing on Wednesday morning, November 20, was a true celebration, with residents and guests viewing the event on closed-circuit television monitors in various locations, while also enjoying coffee and pastries.
The pre-sale phase of the housing expansion will begin immediately.
Beacon Hill at Eastgate is home, family, and security, dedicated to engaging seniors in an active and fulfilling retirement. Its state-of-the-art campus is a continuing care retirement community, offering expanded services with an emphasis on rehabilitation and serving residents suffering from dementia. Beacon Hill integrates a more highly defined service model, characterized by best practices in the areas of social and clinical services, with excellence in hospitality.
For more information about Beacon Hill at Eastgate, the razing event, or the expansion of independent living residences, please contact Mary McLoughlin at (616) 698-0748 or mary.t.mcloughlin2015@gmail.com.
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