Members of the ERS team recently attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the new and exciting Manse Apartments for seniors. With affordable housing in short supply for older adults and given ERS's ongoing commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our community’s seniors, we couldn’t be more thrilled about this project or our part in it.

Here’s a closer look at the transformation of this historic Manse Hotel into affordable senior housing means for its future residents.

An Old Building Finds New Life

Located at 1004 Chapel Street in Walnut Hills, Cincinnati’s Manse Hotel boasts a rich and vital history. During the segregation era, it provided accommodations for visiting African Americans who not only stayed there but also held weddings, meetings and other social gatherings at the hotel. During the mid 20th century, the Manse Hotel played host to many celebrities, including everyone from 1956 Cincinnati Reds first baseman and rookie of the year Frank Robinson to the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. It was also where the press conference was held after Joe Louis bowed to Cincinnati native Ezzard Charles in 1950’s world heavyweight boxing championship.

While the property has been vacant for the past year, it’s now undergoing a transformation that will see it finding new and necessary relevance in modern times as affordable senior housing. “We get to preserve Manse Hotel which is a really important part of Cincinnati’s history, but we get to do it in a way, I think, that honors the past,” says Bobby Maly of the Model Group, which owns the property.

In addition to restoring the former historic hotel, the $13 million project—which is supported by a tax abatement, historic tax credit, and $1 million loan from the city—will also include the restoration of the Manse Annex at 926 Chapel Street as well as the addition of an 18-unit building behind the Manse Hotel at 926 Lincoln Ave.

"We get to bring 60 brand new, top quality housing units for Walnut Hills seniors, so people can stay in their homes and in their community of Walnut Hills," Maly concluded. All of these units will embrace “aging in place” and “visitability” concepts, while 20 of them will be ADA accessible.

Why ERS is a Perfect Fit

For nearly 70 years, Episcopal Retirement Services has committed itself to improving the lives of older adults through innovative, quality senior living communities, as well as through community service to older adults. This makes us a perfect fit to take on the role of the property manager at the Manse Apartments. Currently, ERS encompasses five senior living communities in Cincinnati and Kentucky. Six more projects, including the Manse Apartments, are underway.

We are delighted that the Manse Apartments will offer many amenities designed to support positive aging among residents, including a fitness room, outdoor community space, and health services. Not only are these features rare in affordable senior housing, but they also perfectly align with our mission to support the holistic health and wellness of seniors.

Said ERS CEO Laura Lamb of ERS’s relationship with the Manse Apartments, “We’ll be the ones that coordinate the services provided to the elders. We’re partners of the Model Group, who is our developer, and we’re just so excited.”

“There is a tremendous shortage of affordable options. Our goal is to help seniors age in place through quality housing and on-site activities for wellness, spirituality, and enrichment," added ERS’s vice president of affordable living and in-home services Kathy Isol-Lind.

Construction on the Manse Apartments is expected to be completed by the spring of 2020, and the community will be resident-ready by that fall. Interested seniors can learn more about the Manse apartment and application process by calling ERS at (513) 271-9610. To learn more about ERS’s other affordable living communities, visit our website.