SPOKANE, Wash. — The Academy Retirement Community will soon reopen as an apartment complex after dozens of senior citizens were forced to pack up their belongings and move in September.
The Academy website now shows apartments that are “the perfect option for students,” as the building is situated less than a mile than a mile from Gonzaga University near Mission Park.
The building will also feature a coffee bar, study lounge, fitness center and multiple gathering spaces, among other amenities. Pets are welcome in the apartments with a pet fee and extra rent charge.
The new apartments will feature modern updates while preserving the historic character of the Victorian-style building, according to the website.
Rent ranges from $700 a month to $1,410. Applications are available online.
KREM tried to reach out to The Academy about when the units would be available for move-in but could not reach anyone via phone.
The Academy Retirement Community operated in Spokane for more than 20 years. The historic building used to be the Holy Names Academy, which served as a private girls’ school for more than 80 years, according to an online Spokane history blog.
Senior citizens asked to move out in September
The senior citizens who lived at The Academy found out about the plans via letters taped to their apartment doors from the President of Stellar Senior Living Evrett W. Benton.
“Therefore, we have determined that it will be necessary to vacate all apartments at The Academy. Our planned renovations will be too extensive and disturbing to allow any residents to live through the conversion,” the letter said. “We understand how disturbing this is for each of you and are sincerely apologetic,” the letter said.
Stellar Senior Living is a senior living management company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They have eight communities, which include two in Washington and two in Idaho, according to the company’s website. The closest facility is in Coeur d’Alene.
Stellar Senior Living purchased The Academy Retirement Community from Merrill Gardens Senior Living. In the letter, the company stated they initially planned to keep the building as senior housing. But then they decided to renovate the building and turn them into general multi-family apartments.
A representative with Stellar Senior Living confirmed with KREM 2 the 60 to 70 tenants needed to move out by the Nov. 15 deadline mentioned at the end of the letter.
Mark Cosgrove, 91, said getting the news was difficult.
"I am nervous. I am upset. Some nights I can't sleep,” Cosgrove said.
Cosgrove lived in the Academy Retirement Community for close to a decade. His top floor apartment did not go unnoticed. Washington State University flags, signs and memorabilia welcome his visitors. He said he is proud of where he lives and he does not want to move.
“I love this place. All of us are very disgusted in the manner of which it has been handled,” Cosgrove said.
Cosgrove and the other tenants first got word of the changeover in August. They received a letter from the vice president of operations at Merrill Gardens Senior Living. It said the facility will no longer be licensed by the state and will be "operated exclusively as an independent living community."
Cosgrove said he was under the impression nothing would change for independent-living residents like himself. The Academy has 95 units. There were 73 independent-living units and 22 are assisted-living units.
The independent-living tenants had services like housekeeping, transportation, three meals each day and special activities.
The representative for Stellar Senior Living said they would have placement agents at the Academy to help residents find housing. The company also said they would shave $500 off their rent so tenants can use that money for moving expenses.
