One of Wrangell's oldest and largest lodgings, the Sourdough Lodge has been sold to a group of partners, who will convert the building into an assisted living facility. To be called Harbor House because of its view of Reliance Harbor, the center is expected to open its doors to residents in April.
Wrangell's second-largest travel lodging has been sold, and will be repurposed as a senior housing and assisted living center this spring.
The owners of the Sourdough Lodge sold the property to a group of buyers, who are currently renovating its rooms and preparing it for the new use. Once completed, by April 1 the lodge will be rechristened Harbor House Assisted Living Center and Senior Housing.
One of the buyers, Shannon Bosdell, explained the facility will fill a need in the community for housing alternatives benefitting seniors.
"What I understand from the research that I've done, is we have the oldest growing population right here, and not a lot of services for them," he said.
In a report conducted as part of the city's Institute property master planning sessions last March, Wrangell is at the far end of a wider trend in Alaska. Demographically the state is aging, with Southeast having a higher proportion of older residents than other parts. Compared to the state's average age of 34, Wrangell's comes in high at 48. A housing needs survey conducted by Wrangell Cooperative Association in 2015 further found that senior housing was one of the community's top needs.
Once renovated, the former lodge will be able to accommodate five assisted living rooms, and up to 11 senior housing rooms. The variety of rooms will allow residents greater leeway to tailor the housing to their needs, and there will be opportunities for couples to live together as well.
"My big idea here, it's kind of a cradle-to-grave design," Bosdell said. "That's what I really like about it. So you come in as seniors here at 55, and you live here through senior living through assisted living, all the way to hospice care. So you don't have to move to several different places during that process."
A retired registered nurse, Bosdell has 15 years' prior experience managing similar facilities. What will set the former Sourdough apart in terms of amenities will be its homey atmosphere.
"When you walk into an assisted living home or a nursing home it feels like a nursing home, or a hospital. The idea of this place for me is for it to feel like home. I want you come here, be comfortable, eat well," he said. "The thing I'm happy about, that I really love, is the kitchen here because it's going to be more of the restaurant-style sort of serving."
He gave tours of the work-in-progress to prospective residents on Tuesday. Several rooms were already ready, with single occupancy units giving residents some personal space and a view, in addition to private restroom facilities. There are larger rooms available for couples or specialized care requirements, and the Sourdough's large reception area is being reworked into a front-end community room.
"We're going to have a big-screen TV for movies there," Bosdell explained. He plans to hire a recreational director to help keep residents engaged and active. There will be a nearby nursing station with a registered nurse on hand, and transportation services are planned to convey residents from the Peninsula Street location into town on a regular basis.
The lodge's large kitchen and dining area will allow for a more restaurant-style service, and Bosdell pointed out all the facility's features will be included for residents at no additional cost. On average, the cost for a single resident will be around $1,500 a month for housing. According to the 2015 Genworth Financial cost of care survey, the average for assisted living in Alaska is much higher, at $5,703 per month.
Funding for the venture was put forward by himself and his wife, Victoria Bosdell, and partners Daniel and Niki Blake. At the moment, Bosdell is a licensed administrator through the state, and Harbor House will have all its requisite licensing and staffing by the time it opens.
"There are a lot of different badges you have to wear for something this size. It's quite a jump," he said.
Once open, Bosdell expected the center would add between four and a dozen new jobs.
"I think it's going to be a great mix," he commented. "I was just so excited by the building and everything it offers."
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