HISTORIC ASHE HOSPITAL
Historic Ashe Hospital in Jefferson, NC, has won a 2020 Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award in the Seniors Category.
On the National Register of Historic Places, Historic Ashe Hospital is the renovation of an abandoned hospital, originally constructed in 1941 as a Works Progress Administration project, to provide 46 affordable homes for seniors, people with disabilities, and formerly homeless individuals. This redevelopment is a story of dedication that led to the restoration of a historic space into beautiful, service-rich housing and additional affordable homes through stunning new construction. Developed by Northwestern Housing Enterprises, Incorporated, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit) was used to finance this property, with syndication provided by Red Stone Equity Partners, LLC. Both State and Federal Historic Tax Credits were also utilized.
Historic Ashe Hospital is located across from the Appalachian District Health Department, which delivers several services to residents at Historic Ashe, including personal care aide services, in-home aide services, case management, skilled nursing services, and physical, occupational and/or speech therapy. Vaya Health provides a variety of mental health services on-site. Community partners also provide GED/High School Equivalency classes for residents who are interested, door-to-door transportation to the nearby senior center, volunteer opportunities, participation in the North Carolina Senior Games, AARP TaxAide, nutrition classes, hearing aid services, Social Security assistance, computer classes, support groups, bible study, music and singing activities, and craft classes. Historic Ashe Hospital residents are also provided free bus passes from Ashe Services for the Aging.
The historic building includes a community meeting room and kitchen, computer room, office space, library, indoor postal service, and memory room with artifacts from the original hospital. Wide hallways, tall ceilings and large windows remind the visitor of great public spaces of the past, and the new construction wing echoes the historic features. The site offers beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain views from outdoor courtyards, open-air porches, a gazebo and covered pavilion.
Several additional groups and individuals were instrumental in bringing the project to fruition, including Foss & Company, Bank of Tennessee, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, Tise-Kiester Architects of Chapel Hill, the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and E. G. “Ned” Fowler, President of Northwestern Housing Enterprises, Incorporated.
Click here to read more in the Ashe Post & Times.
Click here to read more in the Omaha World-Herald.
Click here to read more in the Lincoln Journal Star.
Congressional Recognition
Statement from U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)
“Congratulations to the Historic Ashe Hospital for receiving the competitive Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award in the senior housing category,” said Senator Richard Burr (R-NC). “This award recognizes the commitment of Northwestern Housing Enterprises to preserving the hospital and creating new, affordable housing for seniors. I applaud the Historic Ashe Hospital for its work to enhance the quality of life for seniors in North Carolina, especially as we continue to recover from this pandemic.”
Recognition from U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) provided Historic Ashe Hospital with a letter of congratulations, in which he wrote, “I am happy to congratulate Historic Ashe Hospital on winning the Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award in the senior housing category. This honor rightly deserves recognition, and I commend the great work you are doing in our community. Your selection for this highly competitive award signifies your commitment to enhancing and improving the quality of life in our state, and I thank you for serving our citizens with excellence.”
Senator Tillis has also provided to Historic Ashe Hospital an American flag that was previously flown over the U.S. Capitol, as well as a commemorative certificate in celebration of the award ceremony.
Congressional staff from the offices of Senators Tillis and Richard Burr (R-NC) also visited the property in September, 2020.
