Our Senior Housing Development Services

The Villages of North Branch, An Ecumen Community

Photo of Ecumen's Villages of North Branch Community taken by KKE Architects

Developing senior housing can be a huge, complex undertaking. We provide ease to our clients by bringing all of the pieces to the project from concept to completion. Ecumen also can manage and market the senior housing community if you choose.

Our TEAM Approach

TEAM Ecumen is comprised of Ecumen, Pope Associates Inc., a leading architectural firm, and Adolfson & Peterson Construction. Our focus is to design and build housing that makes communities proud and that people are proud to call home.

Our TEAM approach means you spend less time sending requests for proposals, conducting interviews, reviewing bids and budgets, and doing all of the other time consuming, mind numbing, expensive activities that come with working and managing multiple contractors. Our TEAM approach gives you more flexibility and efficiency by giving you one point of contact throughout the entire project and providing the following services:

Market Analysis
Site Analysis
Comprehensive Planning
Secure Municipal Approvals
Budget Management
Set Pricing
Establish Operating Pro Forma

Financial Feasibility Analysis
Product Positioning
Contractor Selection
Construction Management
Architectural Design
Interior Design
Marketing

TEAM Ecumen Advantages

Consistency: You work with the same team throughout the entire development project rather than bouncing from contractor to contractor. This process means that you are the most integral TEAM member.
Efficiency: Unlike new partners that work together for the first time, there is no learning curve for us. We get right to work to get the results you desire.
Purchasing Power: Our TEAM approach gives you the advantage of lower costs through our mass purchasing power.
Flexibility: Because we are all involved in the project from the beginning, we work with you to shape what you want rather than saying “here is the cookie-cutter, this is it.”
Expertise: We have developed all types of successful senior housing, including cooperatives, condominiums, rentals, independent and assisted living, memory care, health centers and continuing care retirement communities.

Meet Key TEAM Members

Steve Ordahl, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Ecumen

Steve has led the largest housing expansion in Ecumen's century-plus history, more than $130 million of development and more than 700 units over a two-year period. His work in major campus repositionings and strategic partnerships have helped a variety of Ecumen clients turn their development visions into realities.

Dana Wollschlager, Director of Real Estate Development, Ecumen

Dana has nearly 20 years of experience in senior housing development, redevelopment, financing, and affordable housing operations, management and regulatory compliance. She began her career in onsite management and has led the development of a variety of senior communities in urban and rural settings.

Julie Murray, Director of Real Estate Development, Ecumen

Julie brings more than 10 years of experience in the senior housing profession. She has led marketing efforts at several of the country's leading continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) in Dallas and Las Vegas. Read Minneaoplis Star Tribune interview with Julie.

Tom Opatz, Director of Real Estate Development, Ecumen

Tom has served in a variety of managerial roles in senior housing and long-term care, including managing assisted living and serving as a nursing home administrator over his 10+ years in the profession. He also served as a regional director of housing operations at Ecumen.

Carl “Skip” Sorensen, AIA, Director of Housing and Aging, Pope Architects

Skip has designed senior housing for more than 30 years and has received national recognition for building design, energy conservation, affordability and marketability.

Ward Isaacson, AIA, Principal, Pope Architects

Ward's 18 year career has focused primarily on the design of innovative housing for seniors. As a Principal at Pope Architects, Ward provides leadership in the management, design, documentation and administration of your project through construction.

Mark Liska, Vice President, Adolfson & Peterson Construction

Mark Liska's career spans over 25 years in construction and construction management. He provides expertise on project delivery beginning with conceptualization, through construction, into building transition, and long range building management.

A Sampling of Ecumen Developments

Below are a sampling of Ecumen developments, which include several repositionings from nursing homes to multi-faceted senior communities. Each of these communities are built to meet customer “wants, not simply needs. “Institutional” is not in our vocabulary. Our focus in development and management of these communities is to develop a place that our customers are proud to call home and is a vital part of the larger community.

Lakeshore: Creating a Superior Way of Life

The Villages of North Branch: Expanding Housing Options

Luther Park of Sandpoint: Expanding a Church's Community

Vitalize! Wellness Centre: Successful Aging Community Center focused on Mind, Body, Spirit

CountrySide: Catered Living Enhances Independence

Contact Us

Contact Dana Wollschlager, Director of Real Estate Development
T. 651-766-4346 or 1-800-642-6491
Danawollschlager@ecumen.org