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The old St. Elizabeth Hospital building in Covington is now in the hands of new owners, as is the building’s primary business, Providence Pavilion.

George Hagan sold both the 100-year old building and his nursing home business to Platinum Health Care, an Illinois-based operator of nursing homes, senior housing, rehabilitation facilities, addiction centers, and other health-related businesses. The company’s owner, Ben Klein, was in Covington this week and talked to The River City News about his plans for an iconic local structure where many of the region’s babies from previous generations were born.

“We were so taken with George’s plan,” Klein said, pointing to Hagan’s vision for a multi-use campus that could become more embedded in the community. “I bought into the thought process. I felt the energy in the town. We feel it.”

As for taking over control of such an important historic building, “We compare it to the Olympic torch,” Klein said. “You have to keep it going.”

Providence Pavilion will continue to operate and Klein hopes to bring in more tenants for the sprawling building which saw an increased vacancy once the Diocese of Covington moved into its new facility Downtown. “We hope to make it as viable and busy a community as that campus can be,” Klein said. 

Denise Curran will oversee the local project for the company. “I’m excited to see what it does to the community,” Curran said. “We want to see it busy and people coming and going.”

Terms of the business transaction were not released but Kenton County Property Valuation Administrator records indicate that the building sold for $850,000. Klein intends to attack his new project in phases, the first being to seal the deal with those potential tenants who have already expressed some interest in moving in. Right now, the immediate task involves fact-finding and becoming more acquainted with the area and its potential. Some early intentions for the property include the installation of a pool for aqua-therapy that could be used for seniors or local athletes. 

Klein is particularly taken by Covington and the enthusiasm displayed by its people and leaders in wanting to assist him. “There are not a lot of cities I go to where you have multiple people offering to help you with real estate or finding a new business,” he said. “You have to knock on a lot of doors elsewhere. Everyone here wants to see progress and they really mean it.”

Platinum Health Care is not new to the region. Klein and his company purchased former holdings of the old Deaconess Hospital. Founded in 2001, Platinum Health Care has 3,335 beds in five states, according to its website.

As for Hagan, he said that he is relieved that a company with more resources is stepping in to see the property transformed. “For me it’s a relief knowing that the future is better,” Hagan said. “The nursing home was operating very well. It stays at a very high census. The quality of care has been excellent. What a blessing to have Ben and Denise and a much larger company to make the campus viable.”

Hagan said without the campus being entirely viable, the surrounding neighborhoods of Austinburg and Wallace Woods could have been adversely affected. “These guys did a seamless transition,” he said, noting that the parties closed on December 1. “Any transition is nerve-wracking, especially during the holidays. What an incredible time to do a transition. It’s a relief to know that it worked.”

Hagan is still committed to his multiple properties on Madison Avenue and redeveloping them.

There is no precise plan for what is next at the old St. E which was opened as a hospital in 1914 and operated as such until the new campus was built on Martin Luther King Blvd. a few years ago. Maybe there will be some senior apartments, maybe some expansions for current tenants, and maybe the addition of more retail opportunities. “We hope to find people that need reasonable commercial space,” Klein said. 

“Maybe there will be retail for the community,” he added. “That could help the gentrification continue.”

Written by Michael Monks, editor & publisher of The River City News – Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or email us!