MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – A historic century-old home in Maryland Heights, long believed to have sat vacant for decades, could soon be demolished to make way for a new senior living community.

Harmony Homes Senior Living recently purchased the property at 211 Midland Avenue and has submitted a request for a conditional use permit with the City of Maryland Heights. The proposal calls for demolishing the existing home and building a modern residential senior care facility on the site.

According to the City of Maryland Heights, a public hearing is scheduled for June 24, during which community members will have an opportunity to voice their opinions, raise concerns or shares ideas about the future of the property.

Greg Robeson, Harmony Homes Chief Investment Officer, tells FOX 2 his organization is committed to transparency and community collaboration as plans move forward.

“The reason we’re willing to take on this liability of this property is because we’re trying to do something higher. Like there’s something more important going on, and that’s taking care of the previous generation,” said Robeson in a recent phone call with FOX 2. “We want to be a part of the solution for the neighbors. We want to be part of the solution for the city.”

The home that currently stands, built in 1905 by John L. Miers, was constructed from Missouri limestone and features a distinctive red roof tile, along with a large wraparound porch. Inside, it once boasted a grand wooden staircase leading to multiple bedrooms. Over the years, the building has not only served as a private residence, but also as the Normandy Athletic Club.

While cherished by some as a local landmark, the home has suffered from severe decay, fire damage and asbestos contamination, making restoration largely infeasible.

Current development plans, backed by five partners with Harmony Homes, aim to meet growing demand for senior housing in the St. Louis region.

“We need more places that our ancestors can call in their golden years,” said Robeson. “That’s what brought us together.”

Plans included the phased construction of six buildings, each with 16-bedroom ranch-style homes, over a nine-acre land parcel. Work on the first two buildings is expected to begin shortly after demolition. Each home is estimated to cost $4.5 million.

Robeson said the homes are designed to offer a more intimate, homelike setting than traditional large-scale care facilities. He also anticipates Harmony Homes will deliver high-quality, person-centered care with staffing ratios well above Missouri’s minimum requirements.

“This means we’re going to take care of your parents,” said Robeson. “That’s what that means. We’re gonna spend the money to hire the people. We’re gonna recruit the right people, train them, and it’s going to be a standard for care.”

Outdoor walking paths, gardens and other feature to accommodate a nearby creek are also planned.

Construction is expected to take around 18 months to complete with the first homes projected to open within 10 months of breaking ground, according to Robeson.

Harmony Homes also hopes to preserve aspects of the original home’s legacy. The team plans to explore ways to reuse materials, such as limestone from the original structure, and incorporate them into the new development.

Pending approval from the City of Maryland Heights, the issuance of a Certificate of Need in the State of Missouri and at least one more scheduled public hearing, the project could move forward later this year.

Harmony Homes currently operates three properties in Washington, Missouri. The Maryland Heights site would be the company’s closest location to St. Louis. Looking ahead, the nonprofit also plans to explore future potential opportunities in south St. Louis County.

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