From school to home: Prairie View Senior Living up and running in old elementary

25 Apr 2019


Pierce

Situated along a quiet stretch of road lined with pine trees, the former Prairie View elementary school in Hager City was once a place for young minds.

The school has now been given a new life dedicated to housing seniors wanting to live independently.

Bay City resident Bernard Schoeder, who has spent 42 years in the construction business, fought to keep the elementary school from being demolished in March 2018 with plans to renovate it as Prairie View Senior Living. The school, along with Hillcrest Elementary in Ellsworth, ceased to house Ellsworth Community School District students last year when a centrally located Ellsworth Elementary opened in January 2018.

Finally his plan to build 17 livable units within the old classrooms is complete. He has been renting units to residents 55 years and older since Feb. 1 with ten units left as of March 12.

The feedback he's received about repurposing the building has been positive, according to Schoeder.

Read full article