RAPID CITY - Officials with the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society said Friday that the 200 acres they bought in April from St. Martin Monastery will be the new location of a facility they hope will combine several levels of care for senior citizens.

"We see the future need, and we're a growing retirement destination," Ron Kortemeyer, who will serve as executive director of the new facility, said.

Kortemeyer already oversees Good Samaritan's Echo Ridge facility in Rapid City and nursing home in New Underwood.

Kortemeyer said the dream for the project now would be a full continuum of care that offers diverse amenities including apartment living with very limited assistance to full, skilled nursing care - all at the same facility.

Because of a statewide moratorium on skilled nursing beds now in effect, the nursing-home addition will not be possible.

Greg Amble, director of project development for Good Samaritan, said construction on the new project, which has yet to be named, will most likely begin in late 2008.

"Our plan is that if we are successful in getting the appropriate approval from the city of Rapid City, we will begin with infrastructure work in the latter part of 2008," Amble said.

The project has already been submitted to the city for rezoning and initial plan development.

Good Samaritan, which is headquartered in Sioux Falls, is the nation's largest nonprofit mission-based nursing home organization.

It has about 240 facilities spread throughout 24 states and celebrates its 85th anniversary this year.

Amble said the first phase of the project will house as many as 125 people and create about 30 new jobs.

Kortemeyer said there is a demand for facilities that offer a full continuum of care because it allows people to stay in the same community campus while receiving different levels of care. He said it also allows couples to continue living together even if one individual needs more care than the other.

"Making that transition to assisted living is hard," Kortemeyer said. "This allows people to stay a part of their community as they need more care."

Amble said before Good Samaritan can break ground on the project, approval and planning must be completed.

Amble said little change will be made to the environment on the property, which has access points from Sturgis Road and City Springs Road.

"We've tried to take advantage of the natural elements of the land and try to maintain as much of it as naturally possible," he said.

Another 200 acres of land and the 150,000-square-foot monastery building were bought by the Rapid City Catholic School System and the Diocese of Rapid City.

St. Martin Monastery will retain a portion of the land as well, including the 40 acres closest to the Sturgis Road entrance.

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com