"SCAND seeks seed money" from the June 15, 1978 Door County Advocate"
SCAND seeks seed money
What is Scandia Village?
The answer to that and a host of other questions was given at two fundraising luncheons this week.
Northern Door business people and community leaders learned about Scandia Village at the Du Nord hotel Tuesday noon and their Sturgeon Bay and Southern Door counterparts were given the answers at Smith Lodge Wednesday.
Sponsored by the Senior Citizens Agency of Northern Door (SCAND) , the two separate yet similar social functions were held for the purpose of raising an estimated $75,000 seed money for the ambitious Sister Bay project.
Scandia Village, long a dream of SCAND's 15 directors and other members, is unique in scope yet practical in nature. Although still on the drawing board, Scandia Village is designed to fulfill a growing community need by combining residential and nursing care facilities under one spacious roof.
Plans include a 60 bed nursing home and a 50 unit apartment complex containing efficiency one and two bedroom apartments. The two wings will be connected by a central all-purpose area containing a dining room, library, arts and crafts room, beauty parlor and meeting room.
A 24 acre tract of land located on Highway 57 within the Sister Bay village limits has been purchased by SCAND and although set back from the highway will have easy access to the village proper. Another all-important asset to the project's location is its proximity to Sister Bay's municipal sewage and water system.
Because SCAND is a non-profit, non-partisan private organization comprised solely of volunteers it is not subsidized by state or federal agencies. Inspired by past examples of community support (the hospital, library, Sister Bay dock, etc.) members are asking for individual or group contributions.
The success of this landmark project depends solely, at this stage, on the generosity of contributors. Money is needed to construct model apartments, pay initial costs and begin construction. Once the apartments are sold, Scandia Village is expected to be self-supporting.
Recognizing that most of the existing facilities for the elderly are located in Sturgeon Bay, SCAND is primarily, but not exclusively, interested in providing services for those living in the northern part of the county. Its nursing home facilities would be available to anyone in need of nursing care regardless of age or residence.
Apartments are also not limited to Door county residents. Persons, 62 years of age or older, who wish to live independently in their own homes but who need some household help or require a certain amount of protective care are eligible for occupancy.
Each apartment will contain a complete kitchen but residents will be required to eat at least one meal a day in the central dining room to be certain they have adequate nutrition.
Residents are also within easy reach of Sister Bay's newest medical facilities. The Nor-Dor clinic is not connected with SCAND but its close proximity to the project's site is considered a definite plus. Skilled medical services are a scant stone's throw away.
SCAND points out that there is currently a long waiting list at the Dorchester which is Door county's only nursing home. Door County Memorial hospital would also like to close its extended care unit to provide space for the acutely ill but there is no place for long term patients to go. Other older residents are being housed in nursing homes throughout the state because of the shortage of facilities here.
Recognizing a growing need for expanded services for the elderly, the Door County Health Planning Committee and Northeastern Wisconsin Regional Health Committee approved the entire Scandia Village concept. State approval was also recently received.
The total cost is estimated to be $3.2 million. SCAN board members notes that financial institutions have expressed interest in financing this project if a suitable down payment can be made. The down payment will be secured through the pre-sale of approximately 60 per cent of the apartments.
[author not stated]
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
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