The Oaks at Garden Terrace to open spring 2027
Oak Hills shares detail on new senior independent living community
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NEW ULM -- Oak Hills Living Center is preparing to fill a long-standing gap in local senior housing with The Oaks at Garden Terrace, a new senior independent living community focused on wellness, community and independence.
Candas Schouvieller, administrator and CEO at Oak Hills Living Center, shared details of the project during a community presentation Thursday.
The 39-apartment building is expected to be completed in February 2027, with residents moving in beginning in March 2027. It will be New Ulm's first dedicated senior independent living option.
"This will be the first senior independent living apartments that will be offered in New Ulm," Schouvieller said. "There's market-rate apartments and things like that, but this will be the first senior independent living."
The project is a partnership with Rebound Real Estate, which purchased the Garden Terrace property, along with local community investors. The building will stand as a freestanding addition connected to the broader Oak Hills campus continuum of care.
Schouvieller framed the development against Minnesota's rapidly aging population. More than one million Minnesotans are already age 65 and older, and that number continues to grow. By 2030, the state's working-age population share is projected to drop, while demand for senior housing, health care and long-term services rises. Leading Age Minnesota data shared during the presentation showed the 80-plus population growing faster than available housing and care inventory.
"There's just not going to be enough places for people to get services," Schouvieller said, pointing to charts illustrating the shortfall through 2030.
Oak Hills already offers nursing home care, short-term rehabilitation, assisted living and home-care services. What has been missing, Schouvieller explained, is an option for older adults who no longer want the maintenance of a house or farm but do not need the level of care provided in assisted living.
"Some people don't quite need an assisted living level of care, but they don't have a whole lot of options to move off of their farm or out of their home to have maintenance-free living," she said. "This is really to cover that void."
The Oaks will contain 39 apartments: one-bedroom units starting at 800 square feet and two-bedroom units ranging from 1,000 to 1,300 square feet. The larger two-bedroom layouts include two baths and a den.
Every apartment features a full kitchen with quartz countertops, a washer and dryer, walk-in showers with comfort-height fixtures, and upgraded finishes. Residents will furnish their own units.
Pets will be allowed, and a dedicated outdoor pet area is planned. Indoor heated parking with additional storage is located on the first floor.
Shared spaces include a dining room, exercise room, salon, bar/lounge, living room and social areas with a pool table and large-screen television. A walkway connecting to the main Oak Hills campus is planned.
Three pillars guide daily life at The Oaks: wellness, community and independence. A nurse will visit for blood-pressure checks and wellness conversations.
Exercise classes will range from gentle stretch to strength and balance.
Nutrition will be supported through a daily lunch prepared by Oak Hills' catering operation, plus a 24-hour vending machine with healthy options and a freezer/deli case stocked with salads, sandwiches and prepared meals.
Flexible dining credits are under consideration so residents can use meal value as they prefer.
A private dining room will be available for family gatherings, and a bar/lounge will offer cocktail service.
"We notice just at Oak Hills, when someone comes in for short-term rehab their family compliments how much better their loved one looks and feels and acts," Schouvieller said. "A lot of times it's because of the socialization and good-quality meals. That's what we want to offer here."
Monthly rates start at $3,500 for a one-bedroom and $4,000-$4,200 for two-bedroom units.
The price includes utilities, weekly light housekeeping, garage parking and flexible dining credits. Cable will be separate.
Central air conditioning serves the building, with individual controls in each apartment.
A housing director will be on site Monday through Friday; maintenance, exercise programming and food service will draw on Oak Hills staff.
Schouvieller contrasted the cost with other care options using figures from the handouts: home health with 44 hours of non-medical care per week averages about $7,627 monthly; a private one-bedroom assisted living unit averages $6,403; a semi-private nursing-home room averages $9,923 and a private room $15,766.
The Oaks is private-pay only; no Medicaid waiver services will apply.
Residents who later need additional support can receive home-care services in their apartments.
If higher care becomes necessary, they will have priority access to Oak Hills assisted living or nursing-home services, allowing couples to remain close even if one partner's needs change.
"Once you are in the system, you then have first access to the assisted living [and] the nursing home," Schouvieller said.
Lease terms are still being finalized. Schouvieller invited feedback on whether an initial one-year lease followed by month-to-month would better serve residents. Early interest is already strong enough that some interior design choices remain open for prospective residents who commit soon.
The location keeps residents minutes from downtown shops and theater (5 minutes), the regional medical center (1 minute), Schell's Brewery (8 minutes) and Hermann the German Park (3 minutes).
An elevator will serve the three-story building; emergency evacuation equipment similar to that used in the nursing home will be available if the elevator is ever out of service.
Schouvieller observed strong community support for Oak Hills, including a recent successful campaign that raised funds for a new wheelchair-accessible bus after repeated lift failures left residents stranded.
Veterans organizations contributed the final $5,000 needed.
"Oak Hills has been a staple in our community, and we hope that we can continue to be able to provide that service to many people to come," Schouvieller said. "It's great to be able to stay in your own community and not have to go elsewhere for services."
Construction continues with the goal of welcoming the first residents in spring 2027.
Anyone interested in learning more or scheduling a one-on-one conversation can reach Schouvieller at (507) 233-0800 or visit oakhillsnewulm.com. The address is 1021 N. Garden St., New Ulm.