CHHSM Member Phoebe Ministries Completes Purchase of Rodale Property in Emmaus

Phoebe Ministries put pen to paper Nov. 1, 2018, and then today (Nov. 2) finalized the purchase of the previous Rodale property on 10th and Arch streets in Emmaus Borough, part of the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Since spring, Phoebe has been in the due diligence phase of the commercial property deal, working with the Rodale family and Emmaus Borough to ensure that Phoebe’s plans continue to enhance the community and support health and wellness in the region. Phoebe Ministries, the region’s leader in services for seniors, plans to transform the Rodale corporate campus into a new wellness-focused residential destination for people age 62 and older.

Scott Stevenson, President and CEO of Phoebe, said, “We couldn’t be more excited about Chestnut Ridge at Rodale. For over 115 years, Phoebe has served our community’s seniors, and here we have the ability to do so while honoring the tremendous Rodale legacy of health and wellness.” The purchase price of the property was $12 million, with the Rodale family having naming rights to the new community.

“To have Rodale as a part of the name of this community speaks to the partnership and collaboration we’ve been able to share with Phoebe over these past few months,” said Maria Rodale, CEO of Rodale, Inc. “The wellness focus that will be embedded in this new community maintains our Rodale legacy and then marries it with Phoebe, the leader in senior services in the region. It’s a wonderful collaboration that will serve Emmaus well, and my family is grateful to be a part of it.”

The envisioned Chestnut Ridge at Rodale will maintain and enhance the walking and biking trails and green space currently on the campus and place concerted attention to the connection between physical, spiritual, and emotional health. Phoebe surveyed potential residents and held focus groups in July for feedback on amenities, pricing, and floor plans.

The project will occur in phases, beginning with adaptive reuse of the current Rodale offices into 120 apartments. The current three story office building will be repositioned into one- and two-bedroom apartments with a center courtyard. Additionally, the current one story office building will be re-imagined into a four-story, horseshoe-shaped apartment building with views of South Mountain.

Both buildings will host amenities such as pub and outdoor dining, a wellness studio, an indoor pool, and community gathering spaces. Outside amenities will include ample parking and personal gardening areas. Chestnut Ridge at Rodale is for active, independent adults age 62 and older, but if assisted or nursing care is needed in the future, residents can receive in-home services or priority admission to a local Phoebe campus that provides the care they need.

All construction will prioritize limiting disturbance of existing green space and creating opportunities for residents to interact with the natural environment. The onsite child care center will continue to operate, and Phoebe hopes to provide intergenerational programming to enhance both the educational and residential experiences in the community.

Brynn Buskirk, Vice President of Marketing and External Relations, explains the presale process is starting now, “Over the last several months we’ve had significant community interest. Now that the property purchase is finalized, we are working fervently on pricing options, floor plans, and amenities. As we establish those details, we will begin sharing them.”

Phoebe already has begun the presale process for the new apartments. Learn more at www.emmausretirement.org.

Phoebe Ministries is a not-for-profit, multi-facility organization specializing in healthcare, housing, and support services for seniors. For over a century Phoebe’s tradition of excellence and passion for caring have made us the regional leader in care for senior adults and their family members.