Coming down, brick by brick
Two men survey the demolition of the old brick building at Orchard Ridge Senior Living on Monday of U.S. 95 and Northwest Boulevard.
COEUR d’ALENE — The brick building stood ripped opened for passersby on U.S. 95 and Northwest Boulevard to see Monday morning.
Stairwells and doorways were exposed, rebar hung loose and red bricks that once formed walls were piled on the ground.
More than seven decades of history came down on the campus of Orchard Ridge Senior Living.
“The choice to demo the building was a difficult one,” said Ann Johnson, executive director.
It was originally called the “Infirmary” and housed the very sick who lived at the former Coeur d’Alene Homes, now called Orchard Ridge Assisted Living.
“Over the past few decades, the building became increasingly challenging as fire, safety and health codes for assisted livings made the building obsolete and unable to meet the modern state codes,” said a press release.
In 2006, the current assisted living and memory care at Orchard Ridge was opened and the old building remained vacant.
For 15 years, the nonprofit pondered the best ways to utilize the four-story building. The fire department and area police and sheriff personal even used it for training purposes.
When options for saving the building were exhausted, the Board of Directors last month approved its demolition with a vision of building more affordable independent senior housing on the site.
Peck and Peck Excavating in Post Falls was hired for the $334,000 project, which includes asbestos removal. It's expected to take a few weeks.
“Over the years, the building served hundreds of residents and families with many people having fond memories of visiting loved ones there,” Johnson said. “We still have staff who worked in that building and one resident who lived there.”
She said that “unfortunately, the enormous costs of renovation and the constricts of the structure of the building outweighed the sentimentality of keeping the old building.”
Since 1921, Orchard Ridge has served North Idaho by providing a faith-based home for older adults. It offers an assisted living and memory care as well as independent living. For 100 years, Orchard Ridge Senior Living has been governed by 20 sponsoring churches in the area.
Orchard Ridge Senior Living recently held its centennial celebration that was attended by about 200 people at a Lake Coeur d’Alene home. It raised about $75,000 for the Resident Relief Fund, which was created to help elderly residents who do not have the financial means to cover their cost of care.