THE RIDGES

The Ridges began officially in January, 1965 when the Ridges Lutheran Home was incorporated to develop as a nursing home and medical center on 160 acres near Nicollet Avenue and 138th Street. Originators of the concept were Carl Anderson and Prof. Luther C. Gronseth, who was affiliated with Concordia College of St. Paul.

Not only was the health center concept unique, but financing was to be extraordinary. The men announced at the tine that an important factor in the development of the project was that no monetary investments on the part if the Lutheran church would be necessary. Financing would be don entirely without subsidy. Bonds were sold by the corporation throughout 1965 and 1966, in the amount of $1,650,000, to finance the development. The project was advertised as a Lutheran supported enterprise and most of the bonds were sold to Lutherans, many of whom looked forward to personal use of the retirement home.

Construction of a 100 bed nursing home began in 1966 and was halted in August 1967. The corporation was placed in receivership in October 1967, and the officers and the promoters of The Ridges were indicted in federal Court for mail fraud and violation of securities laws. Subsequently, Anderson was found guilty. Prof. Gronseth was also implicated as was Julian Vinge, president of the Dependable Excavating Company.

Many observers at the time felt that the principals in the Ridges Nursing Home began the project in a sincere effort to provide a better service, but somehow became enmeshed in the financial complexities of making their dream comme true.

The home was about 60% complete, and the remainder of the property was purchased by Fairview Hospitals in March of 1972. In 1973, Fairview and the Ebenezer Society of Minneapolis requested a certificate of need to complete the nursing home project. It was to be an integral part of their proposal for a socio-medical campus.

A lengthy legal process followed, in which the Metropolitan Health Board approved the Certificate of Need but the State Health Board issued a statement reversing denial of a Certificate of Need by the State board of Health. Their decision came within two weeks of an announcement by Fairview that they would develop the remainder of the site, and wait no longer for issuance of a Certificate of Need for the nursing home. The Certificate was issued June 2, 1975 and the nursing home is scheduled to open in the fall of 1976.

Fairview's plans for the site are to develop the area as "a focal point for medical, social and professional services in Dakota County". A venture partnership has been formed among Fairview, Landmark Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Ellerbe, Incorporated, and M.A. Mortenson Construction Company to develop this site.

On September 22, 1974, he Ridges site was officially unveiled and construction started on The Ridges Phase I Medical Complex. This was completed in December, 1975, and the neighboring Prince of Peace Lutheran Church was completed in February, 1976.

With the opening of the nursing home, Phase I will be complete. Three more construction phases will add clinic facilities; medical-dental professional office space, care and housing facilities for the elderly, office facilities for social service organizations, private multiple housing and, finally, a full-service hospital.

The ultimate purpose of The Ridges is seen by its developers as a center providing all forma=s of human services to residents of the area. While medical services are of major importance, other human heeds answering spiritual, psychological and social concerns are also expected to be of strong significance.

Connie Morrison