GA historical timeline GUARDIAN ANGELS
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1962 Guardian Angels of Elk River, Inc., a nonprofit organization, was founded under the
sponsorship of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church of Elk River in cooperation with Elk River’s
business leaders and medical community to serve the elderly of Elk River and surrounding
communities.
1965 A 60-bed nursing care facility, the Elk River Nursing Home (now known as Guardian
Angels Care Center) was built in Elk River with the assistance of a Hill Burton grant.
1966 Riverview Apartments, a 24-unit independent living complex on the Mississippi River in
downtown Elk River, was constructed to meet the housing needs of seniors with limited
incomes. This project was financed by a direct loan from the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD).
1966 The Guardian Angels Auxiliary was organized to contribute funds for enhancing the
quality of life for the Care Center residents. In addition, a volunteer program was
established to assist the numerous programs at Guardian Angels.
1973 The Care Center was expanded to a 120-bed skilled nursing care facility.
1978 Guardian Angels purchased property from the Zimmerman Civic Club to be used as the
site of a proposed senior housing project.
1978 Guardian Angels purchased property from the City of Becker to be used as the site of a
proposed senior housing project.
1980 Under the auspices of Guardian Angels Homes, Inc., a HUD multi-site housing project
consisting of 103 independent living apartments, was constructed to provide low income
seniors an affordable housing option. Guardian Oaks in Elk River is a 63-unit building,
Woodbriar in Becker has 20 apartment units and Pine Tree Manor in Zimmerman also has
20 units. All three locations have a dining program available for both residents and seniors
residing within the service area. Guardian Oaks also houses the Elk River Senior Center.
1985 The Elk River community Hospice program was established to provide new opportunities
for the terminally ill to remain at home and receive supportive care.
1986 Evans Park, a 36-unit senior independent apartment building in Elk River, was constructed
to offer seniors with a moderate income an affordable living environment which offers
them freedom, security, activities and meals while still maintaining an independent
lifestyle.
1991 Guardian Angels Home Health Care, located in downtown Elk River, began providing
skilled nursing, home health aides, homemakers and therapy services to the elderly within
a 20-mile radius of Elk River.
1992 A portion of the south acreage of Guardian Angels’ 22-acre campus was sold to the Fairview
Hospital Development Corporation. The following year, a new medical clinic opened on this
site.
1992 A 13-acre site located on Lake Orono in Elk River was acquired for possible expansion of
new services for the elderly in future years.
1993 Angel Ridge, a 53-unit senior apartment building financed by a HUD Capital Advance Grant,
opened its doors on the Elk River campus, providing subsidized supportive housing for the
very low income elderly.
1993 A three-fold study was conducted by Trossen Wright Architects: Study One - Facility
Analysis, Needs Assessment and Master Development Plan for Guardian Angels Care Center;
Study Two - Conceptual Master Site Development and Cost Estimate for Lake Orono Housing
Site Project; and Study Three - Expansion and Renovation Study of Elk River Senior Center.
1994 Angels On Main Adult Day Services, located in downtown Elk River, began providing
daytime support and socialization for older adults.
1994 The Board of Directors approved a plan for renovation and expansion of the Care Center and
the Elk River Senior Center/Dining Site located in Guardian Oaks. The Board approved a
$1.1 million Capital Campaign to assist in the funding of the two projects ($500,000 for the
Care Center and $600,000 for the Senior Center/Dining Site).
1995 The 22,000 sq. ft. expansion of the Care Center was completed.
1996 Guardian Angels joined a cooperative of Christian providers of senior care, CareChoice, to
develop further joint programs and services.
1996 Guardian Angels sold a one-acre parcel on the Lake Orono campus to Tom and Sara Hartman.
1996 The Lake Orono property was prepared for development of assisted living, townhomes and
Alzheimer’s facilities. The City of Elk River worked with Guardian Angels to install a
stoplight intersection with a frontage road off of the main highway to allow safe access to and
from our property.
1996 Guardian Angels was awarded a second HUD Capital Advance Grant for $1.5 million to add
21 independent living apartments for very low income seniors to the existing Pine Tree Manor
apartments in Zimmerman; the project will be called Pine Cone Manor.
1996 Guardian Angels sold a 50% share in its home health care agency to Elim Care ministries,
forming a new independent corporation known as Guardian Angels † Elim Home Care, Inc.
1997 The Strategic Planning Committee began planning the 12-acre Lake Orono campus. Market
analysis was conducted and a team was formed with the City of Elk River. Guardian Angels
submitted a Planned Unit Development which was later accepted by the City Council. The
property received proper zoning, permits and necessary clearance.
1998 Schematic designs for Guardian Angels By The Lake, a 60-unit assisted living facility, were
completed and the sewer/water feasibility study ordered. Construction on the infrastructure
began.
1998 The Physical Therapy suite was completed in the lower level of Care Center. Guardian Angels
† Elim Home Care also relocated to the lower level of Care Center.
1998 Little Angels Child Care Center opened in remodeled space at Care Center.
1998 The City of Elk River issued $13,500,000 in tax-exempt pooled revenue bonds for Guardian
Angels and The Wilder Foundation through CareChoice cooperative.
1999 Pine Cone Manor, a 21-unit addition to Pine Tree Manor in Zimmerman, opened in April.
1999 Guardian Angels By The Lake Assisted Living opened in August.
2000 The City of Elk River issued $3,020,000 in tax-exempt revenue bonds for Guardian Angels
through CareChoice.
2001 Construction of 20 Twinhomes along Lake Orono was completed in January.
2001 Expansion and remodeling of the Elk River Senior Center/Dining Site at Guardian Oaks was
completed in January.
2002 Lake Orono Twinhomes changes from a rental to an ownership model.
2002 Hilmer Hartman donated 20 acres of property in Dayton to be used as a future site for senior
services and housing.
2004 Guardian Angels † Elim Home Care expanded services into the Buffalo area.
2005 The 65-unit Pullman Place Cooperative located at Elk River Station opened in September.
2005 Guardian Angels † Elim Home Care adds Hospice program in the Elk River area.
2006 Guardian Angels † Elim Home Care adds Hospice program in the Buffalo area.
2007 Guardian Angels Care Center launched a capital project responding to the health needs of the
seniors in its northwest metropolitan service area. The project consists of approximately
40,000 sq. ft. of new and renovated space, including a 24-bed Transitional Care Unit, an 18-
bed Memory Care Neighborhood and a newly designed Town Center.
2007 Grand opening in August of Transitional Care Unit, Memory Care Neighborhood and Town
Center at Guardian Angels Care Center.
2007 Guardian Angels By The Lake opened a 13-unit Memory Care Neighborhood in December.
2008 Dawn Moyer, Board chair and 32-year member of the Board of Directors, received the
Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance 2008 Trustee of the Year Award in February.
2009 Guardian Angels purchased 15.1 acres in Albertville, MN to be used as a site for a senior
campus.
2010 Received Elk River Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award
2012 Added 30 unit memory care to Guardian Angels By The Lake
2012 Purchased Elk River Plaza Building (6/8/12) – Future home of the Corporate Office.
2012 Wellness Center Opened – August/September (former site of the Elk River Senior Center)
2012 Corporate Office location moves to 508 Freeport Avenue NW, Suite A, Elk River
2013 Groundbreaking for Autumn Glen – Coon Rapids (100 units of AP, AL, MC) & Engel Haus
– Albertville (63 units of CL, AL, MC)
2014 Engel Haus opens on October 1st – Grand Opening celebration on October 29th.
2014 Autumn Glen opens on December 15th.
2015 Guardian Angels celebrates its 50th anniversary.
2015 The State of Minnesota awards Guardian Angels Care Center a Moratorium Exception
Grant to assist in renovating the original building known as the “100 wing.” The amount of
the project was 3.8 million dollars compared to the $800,000 costs in 1965.
2015 September – Board of Directors approves a $600,000 capital campaign to assist in
purchasing needed capital equipment for the 100 wing moratorium project.
2016 Renaming of the 100 wing at the Care Center to Bailey Lane to honor the memory of John
Bailey Sr. and Rosemary Bailey, Albert Bailey, and Charles and Ann Bailey.