Work has begun to convert the old Arkhaven Nursing Home complex into a series of apartments in north Iola.
Developer Shane Lamb, who owns the property at 1336 N. Walnut St., expects the first apartments to be ready for occupancy by the end of the year.
“We get probably four phone calls a day from people wanting to rent,” Lamb said Wednesday. “I got tired of letting it sit here and wait.”
Lamb was unsuccessful in applying for a state grant that would have funded a portion of the renovation project.
It was at that time, Lamb decided to eschew further delays by vying for government grants, and bite the bullet and pay cash for the entire renovation project.
“It’s very expensive, but it’s time to stop talking about it, and just do it,” he said. “If we’re gonna wait for somebody to do it, we’re gonna be waiting forever.”
The remodel will be extensive.
“We’ll keep the brick (walls) and that’s about it, for the small buildings,” Lamb said. “Everything will be stripped down to studs. Some of the electric will remain, but everything will essentially be new construction.”
THE COMPLEX consists of a larger H-shaped building, in addition to a pair of separate apartment buildings.
The smaller buildings are the first on Lamb’s to-do list, and will lead to a dozen one-bedroom apartments.
All will be handicap-accessible, with new climate-control systems, LED lighting, insulation and walk-in showers.
“They’re gonna be as energy efficient as you can possibly get them,” Lamb said. “We won’t have the cheapest apartments in town, but the plan is we will have the nicest.”
He expects to begin accepting rental applications as the first phase nears its completion later this year.
The second phase covers the larger building and is expected to begin after Jan. 1.
“We’re still in the planning stages with our architect on the design,” he said, although he expects that portion to create another 40 or so units.
