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With historic Exeter House for sale, First Hill seniors ‘relocating’ to Capitol Hill

(Image: City of Seattle)

(Image: City of Seattle)

More than 100 senior residents of First Hill’s Exeter House retirement community will be on the move in coming months as the 1926-built, landmark-worthy apartment building is being put up for sale, according to a company letter passed on to CHS by the First Hill Improvement Association.

Presbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest has announced it is “relocating the Exeter House community of residents” to Capitol Hill’s Fred Lind Manor on 17th Ave.

A letter from CEO Torsten Hirche followed meetings Wednesday to notify residents of the coming changes:

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“We recognize that change is hard and that moving will be a challenge, especially for some of our residents and team members that have been at Exeter House for many years,” the statement from Hirche reads. “But we also know that this is the right decision: one that is critical to continue our mission to celebrate and enrich the lives of seniors for decades to come, and one that is fully supported by the management at both Exeter House and Fred Lind Manor.”

9th Ave’s Exeter is listed as having 110 units in county records. Fred Lind Manor is listed as having 82.

The company, which describes itself as the only “multi-site, not-for-profit senior living organization in Seattle,” says it is preparing to assist residents with the transition — including “financial support” —

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Company officials have not yet returned CHS’s calls for more information about the announcement and the sale. UPDATE: A PRCN spokesperson tells CHS that they are planning for a gradual transition for residents at both facilities and expect that the demand for units at Fred Lind Manor can be managed based on residents “naturally coming in and out” of the communities while some will also choose to live in a new retirement community.  The spokesperson said financial assistance will include full moving assistance and some help for residents who paid for improvements in their Exeter House units.

In the statement PRCN says it expects the transition will take up to 12 months and that the historic building “will be turned over to a new owner only after all of the residents have been relocated.”

The roaring ’20s building is listed among Seattle’s historical sites as qualifying for national and local recognition:

This ten-story building is of concrete construction, clad in brownish brick with extensive terra cotta ornamentation. The center entry bay and two other bays on the main (south) façade, as well as a bay on each side elevation, are all completely clad with cream-colored terra cotta with a variety of Tudor-inspired motifs. Terra cotta medallions also adorn the gabled parapet and the top-floor spandrels. A very wide belt course and water table delineate the first floor. A narrow string course at the base of the parapet is highlighted with patterned brickwork and decorative tiles. The front of the building is further enhanced with three projecting bays of terra cotta, one above the entry. The elegant entry has the name “Exeter” incised between two shields. Windows are newer metal sash.

PRCN acquired the grand Exeter Hotel in 1962 and converted it to the retirement community. The sale of the property on the edge of Freeway Park across from Town Hall Seattle will bring its holdings down to three locations.

In addition to the construction waves that continue to pulse through the city, acquisition and redevelopment of existing old apartment buildings has also been a booming business — with residents sometimes being left behind in the wake. In September 2014, the $73.9 million purchase of First Hill’s Panorama House left many residents — including many senior First Hillers — looking at the prospect of significantly jacked-up rents.

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Anon.
Anon.
8 years ago

Clearly, this is profit motivated. Relocation Stess syndrome is a vey real problem for seniors.

Over the past two decades, increasing attention has been paid to relocation stress syndrome (RSS), which is also known as transfer trauma. RSS is a formal diagnosis characterized by a combination of physiologic and psychologic disturbances that occur as a result of transferring a person from one environment to another. Symptoms of relocation stress syndrome include exhaustion, sleep disturbances, anxiety, grief and loss, depression and disorientation. In seniors, these symptoms are exacerbated by dementia, mild cognitive impairment, poor physical health, frailty, lack of a support system, and sensory impairment. For these seniors in particular, the resulting confusion, depression and agitation have led to increased falls, undesirable weight loss and self-care deficits.

Junk Science
Junk Science
8 years ago
Reply to  Anon.

RSS is not a formal diagnosis. It is a self-aggrandizing claim by the writer. But I will declare a new formal diagnosis: PCSD (post-comment-stress-disorder), characterized by eye rolling and elevated blood pressure from reading nonsense in readers comments. Been to Exeter House? Spoken to any residents? Try that first.

Anon.
Anon.
8 years ago
Reply to  Junk Science

JunkScience, this is not an easy transition for seniors no matter where they live.

The health risks posed by social isolation may be particularly severe for older adults (Cacioppo and Hawkley 2003; Tomaka, Thompson, and Palacios 2006), especially as they are likely to face stressful life course transitions, health problems, and disabilities (Brummett et al. 2001). Another reason to examine social disconnectedness and perceived isolation among older adults is the fact that older adults may be uniquely able to optimize social relationships or adjust expectations so that low levels of social connectedness do not precipitate feelings of loneliness or perceived deficits in support (Lang and Carstensen 1994; Schnittker 2007

Leslie Helm
Leslie Helm
8 years ago
Reply to  Junk Science

My mother lives at Exeter House. She has dementia. Her apartment at Exeter House is her only anchor. Every time she leaves Exeter House, even just to go out for dinner, she is completely disoriented. Several years ago when she moved from the 9th floor to assisted living on the 3rd floor, it took a year for her to get adjusted. Where she is now she knows all the employees and can easily make her way around the place. I just can’t imagine what this move will do to her. I am very worried.

Anon.
Anon.
8 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Helm

I feel very sorry for your mother in this situation. Unfortunately, our city leaders are not strong enough to prevent this pivotal event from occurring. Greed rules over thoughtfulness, kindness or consideration. There has to be a way to prevent this, but American capitalism is paramount to our civic leaders.

Myparentsliveelsewhere
Myparentsliveelsewhere
8 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Helm

Did your mother, an actual Exeter assisted living resident, get an additional notice? Long term care resident rights law (RCW 70.129.110) requires an assisted living licensee to provide each resident a written notice that provides the name, address, and phone number for the Long Term Care Ombuds.

DB McWeeberton
DB McWeeberton
8 years ago
Reply to  Anon.

This term usually refers to a move from a private home to an assisted-living facility, so I’m not sure it’s as applicable here. The interactions with caregivers should remain much the same. I’m not saying the move won’t be stressful for some of the residents (moving is stressful for everyone), but it’s not comparable to a move from independence to assisted living.

#byeoldies
#byeoldies
8 years ago

Move a little north for rainbow crosswalks, woo girls and the new cap hill! A solid case study here in what is a living nightmare in the thigh light years.

DB McWeeberton
DB McWeeberton
8 years ago
Reply to  #byeoldies

It’s not at Pike & Broadway, it’s just on Capitol Hill (a large neighborhood), two blocks from Group Health.

Not-so-peaceful golden years
Not-so-peaceful golden years
8 years ago

Yikes. What a terrible location for seniors. The block to the south has the Olive Ridge housing project, site of frequent nut-ball shouting matches and visits by emergency services to deal with what appear to be fairly messed-up and anti-social residents. And a block south and west has Sound Mental Health, where the last couple of Capitol Hill’s hatchet murderers have “received care.”

Joe M
Joe M
8 years ago

Your experience with the neighborhood is quite different than mine. I’ve lived a block from both Sound Mental Health and Olive Ridge for the past 15 years, and both have been largely unremarkable neighbors over that time. Fred Lind is a great location – a quiet, tree lined street with easy walking access to 15th, medical services, and groceries. By comparison Exeter House, next to Town Hall, seems much less desirable or convenient, especially for mobility-limited seniors.

DB McWeeberton
DB McWeeberton
8 years ago
Reply to  Joe M

I agree–that area of 17th seems like a much nicer location than the isolated, near downtown/I-5 area where Exeter House is. I’d be much more comfortable having a parent there than right off Freeway Park.

Exeter House (if re-tooled a bit) on the other hand, is a great location for more mobile, working-age people.

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
8 years ago

It’s not like the bulk of this group will be constantly outside playing Frisbee and touch football on the lawn. Have you even been to a senior facility lately? I have– my Dad just moved into one. Most of their socializing happens inside. And, as has been noted, the grounds around Fred Lind are quite nice. It’s a quiet neighborhood. These residents won’t accidentally stumble into gangs of drunken Bro-guys and Woo-girls. That’s blocks and blocks away.

RWK
RWK
8 years ago

Exeter House is a gorgeous building, both inside and out. It would be a shame if its sale results in significant renovations, or even worse demolition.

Does anyone know if Exeter House is landmarked?

a.
a.
8 years ago

Significantly jacked-up rents is definitely true! I recently checked out Panorama House’s web site and the cheapest 1 bedroom is $2,125! Yikes! http://units.realtydatatrust.com/UnitAvailability.aspx?ils=5700&fid=105736&tname=Default

DB McWeeberton
DB McWeeberton
8 years ago
Reply to  a.

The Panorama House eviction was a true horror show, much different than this.

Their new website says “At Panorama, great beauty comes with the age and historical context of the building and its neighborhood!” which I guess is not meant to include the age of the former tenants…

http://www.panoramaseattle.com/

Optimum
Optimum
8 years ago

Screwing over the most vulnerable for the greed of developers.Its the oldest story in local politics that the city allows them to get away with it.

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
8 years ago
Reply to  Optimum

Whereas allowing them to live in a crumbling building that needs significant repairs is so much more humane?

Anon.
Anon.
8 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

There is no indication that the building is ‘crumbling.’ The building would have to pass inspection. This is pure American capitalism at work- displace the vulnerable and weak- and put in granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Then reap the profits! That’s what makes America great! Greed and avarice.

citycat
citycat
8 years ago

It would be a shame if this building is torn down or the appearance is significantly altered. Seattle’s built environment is quickly becoming so ugly. When buildings like the Exeter House or beautiful old homes are replaced with cheap corrugated metal and Hardie board, it is a travesty.

DB McWeeberton
DB McWeeberton
8 years ago
Reply to  citycat

I think it’s likely this building will get the Marlborough treatment: http://www.marlboroughseattle.com/
It’s large and attractive, and has a good basic structure and an excellent location. If they fix a few things and tart it up on the inside, they’ll get premium rents. It seems HIGHLY unlikely that it would be torn down.

AnyHelpfulRegulations?
AnyHelpfulRegulations?
8 years ago

As an aging baby boomer, I follow the senior living marketplace including its financing, trying to plan for the future. The MSRB EMMA database provides information about senior living operators that are financed by bonds. Some facts are available about Exeter because of bonds issued on behalf of Pacific Retirement Communities Northwest in 2013. The Original Disclosure document describes Exeter on pages 73-74 out of 250. It says PRCN stopped marketing “entrance fee” contracts for Exeter in May 2013, but that there were still 27 entrance fee contracts in effect. (Almost 20 percent of the residents?) This fact inspires many questions that will probably not have answers.

Are any of these 27 contracts still in effect? Does a PRCN entrance fee contract permit PRCN to park a customer just anywhere in the PRCN empire?

Does Washington provide any oversight of the marketing of entrance fee contracts for senior living, recognizing that the vendors of such contracts are targeting the life savings and future income of elderly and vulnerable adults? Some states provide some oversight, but I have not found any indication that of oversight in Washington.

Is the Exeter closure just one step in a long term plan by PRCN to steer the savings and income of elderly persons who could afford an entrance fee to Park Shore and Skyline, transitioning Exeter to a building of month-to-month renting seniors, who would have no idea that the operation was slowly becoming starved of the cash that would be needed to provide for on-going maintenance and refurbishment of an aging building? Are fees paid by Exeter residents used only at Exeter, or is PRCN permitted to apply fees paid by Exeter residents to other purposes in other retirement communities?

The Exeter closure makes me think about other large or small groups of entrance fee communities. Does it herald a shut-down when an operator halts the marketing of entrance fee contracts?

If the prime location of Exeter sells quickly, would PRCN be permitted to change its schedule from a year-long-transition, to a thirty-day notice to vacate? Is more than thirty days notice required by Seattle landlord-tenant regulations? Is more than thirty days notice required to shut down a licensed assisted living facility such as Exeter?

Thanks for reading my questions. I’m not expecting that there are ready answers, but it might benefit all of us consumers in the senior living marketplace if we start naming and collecting questions like this.

Chris
Chris
8 years ago

These are great questions. There is a real difference between these financing mechanisms. My guess is you won’t get a lot of answers for Exeter, specifically, but I am glad you raised the points.

I agree with the poster who says Exeter will get the Marlboro treatment. It’s highly likely it will be torn down because it is so large. Hopefully the new owner of the Exeter will be more ethical in how he permits the renovations than the Marlboro: the Marlboro has dozens of small permits instead of one big one to avoid substantial left safety upgrades.

Loopholes are always where we can find the interesting stories…

Moira
Moira
8 years ago

I’m not buying the crumbling infrastructure voodoo from PRCN. I have a 17 year familiarity with this building. It has always been well maintained and upgraded when needed. As for the location: most folks moved in there because of the location. Walking distance to the high points of downtown for those with good mobility, or a bus stop at the front door to get residents where they needed to go. Nobody felt stranded here in a bad location, exactly the opposite.
This is pure and unadulterated greed at work. PRCN knows they can reap big bucks for this building and its prime location. I would love to know which residents were on the committee that decided this was a good idea. Who are you trying to boondoggle? EH residents loved living in this historic building with thick walls, views from many units, load of period charm that are totally lacking at Fred Lind which is at best very mediocre construction and bland interiors, everything kind of Home Depot caliber.
This is a sad end to a wonderful senior living environment, all in the name of greed and profit. Who are these PRCN people masquerading as Christians? As is so often the case, Christians not following the teachings of Christ. Amen!

Behind the glass
Behind the glass
8 years ago

I am very familiar with this building having worked there for 7 years .
Most all interior of the building is already remodeled . Past managements have gutted almost all of it historic rooms . Mahogany doors throughout the building were replaced years ago , there is more MDF trim in that building then Home Depot has on stock ..
Management has run that building like a apartment house for years .. The Christian base is a cover .. They care nothing for the residents or employees.
It’s sad because the ol mighty dollar is what management is after , not humanity , respect or loyalty .