Renaissance Terrace Assisted Living has called a press conference for 11 a.m. today (01/06/22) and is expected to announce that it will close on April 15, 2022, and sell the building. The building at 215 Bearden Place is adjacent to Broadway Baptist Church. It is operated by the nonprofit Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service Inc.
The media notice said the purpose of the briefing is to discuss recent developments affecting senior care and Renaissance Terrace. The facility opened with 50 resident rooms and community areas in 2008. Broadway Baptist closed its daycare center to make way for the construction.
Tim Howell
State Sen. Ben Atchley was instrumental in obtaining construction funding and was at the official opening. Tim Howell was promoted to chief executive officer of SCHAS at that time and remains CEO. He will conduct today’s briefing.
Meanwhile, Robert S. Rutherford jumped on Facebook Wednesday to share a letter that his aunt, a resident at Renaissance, had received. (Letter at end)
Rutherford said the closure will be “devastating for our family and many others.” He said his aunt has shown improvement in heath and wellbeing since moving there.
“The reason for the closure is funding,” Rutherford wrote. “This program serves a low-income population and was promised an increase in state and federal funds, specifically from the American Recovery Act (covid fund). The funds have never arrived and now many of our most vulnerable senior citizens are facing eviction and disruption of the care they have been receiving.”
By day’s end, community activist Vivian Shipe was on Facebook with a message that started: “Rise Up.” See the video here.
Sandra Clark is editor/CEO of Knox TN Today.
