Nascentia Health announced today that they are under contract to acquire the 50+-acre Beeches complex in Rome, with a plan to transform the property to a mixed-use development that will include independent and supportive housing options for seniors. The Beeches Restaurant and Conference Center and the Inn at The Beeches, which closed at the end of 2018, has a long history in the Rome community as a premier venue for conferences and events. Existing business tenants will be unaffected by the purchase and will continue to maintain their leases. Nascentia expects to close in mid-April 2021.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Nascentia Health to adapt this beautiful and historic estate for the future in a meaningful way that exemplifies the importance of The Beeches and the Destito family to the Rome Community,” says CEO of Nascentia Health, Kate Rolf, MBA, CHCE, FACHE. “Our renovation plans will bring needed jobs and resources to the area. We’re looking forward to partnering with our Rome neighbors to plan and deliver a new community resource.”
The Beeches has been owned and operated by the Destito family since 1949. The family wanted to ensure that the parcels would not be broken up or used in a way that would not benefit the community, so Nascentia Health’s plan to create a community-focused mixed-use development was a perfect fit for the vision that the family had for the site. The Destito family—Frank, Dominick, and Orrie—who are 3rd generation owners of the property, note that “we explored many options and proposals for the reuse of this iconic property, hoping to find one that would have the resources and vision to keep it in its entirety, develop something that would benefit the community, and keep its history and beauty intact. It was with Nascentia we found this great combination.”
Rome Mayor Jacqueline Izzo commented that “We are thrilled for seniors in the City of Rome and surrounding areas who have been advocating for a seniors-only residential complex for many years. We welcome with open arms Nascentia Health’s vision for a senior living and mixed-use development campus. There could not be a better setting for this type of project than The Beeches property. Over the last several years, we identified a major gap in residential services for those seniors looking to downsize but still retain their independence among people of their own age. The City of Rome looks forward to continuing our working relationship with Nascentia Health to bring their plans to fruition.”
The property conversion will focus on re-purposing the existing inn building as well as other parts of the campus, to a true community for seniors to “age in place,” allowing them to continue to live independently with support from a wide range of healthcare professionals. The conference center will be updated as communal space and will once again be available for holding private meetings and venues. The project is expected to bring valuable healthcare jobs to the area, including nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, home health aides, and more.
“We applaud Nascentia Health for their forward-thinking investment to both preserve and enhance a community asset with their purchase of The Beeches complex,” said Steven J. DiMeo, president of Mohawk Valley EDGE. “This mixed-use senior housing project will bring a much-needed new housing product to the marketplace to serve a population that is desperately in need of more options. The economic impact of this investment will be seen both by the adaptive reuse of a historic community property as well as new jobs. We look forward to seeing this project take shape and welcome Nascentia Health to the community.”