Groundbreaking – May 2, 2022

On Monday, May 2, Phoebe broke ground at Chestnut Ridge at Rodale. The Phoebe Board, Phoebe Executive Team, Wohlsen Construction executives, RLPS Architects, and community leaders were in attendance to celebrate the much-anticipated start of construction.

“We are so excited to have Phoebe Ministries as a part of the Borough of Emmaus,” said Emmaus’ Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert, who participated in the groundbreaking. “Chestnut Ridge at Rodale will be a tremendous asset to seniors who want to remain independent and enjoy everything the Borough offers,” said Mayor Gilbert.

Purchased by Phoebe from the Rodale family in 2018, Chestnut Ridge at Rodale will feature 126 apartments located in two buildings uniquely designed by RLPS Architects and constructed by Wohlsen Construction Co.

“We’re just so excited now to be able to kick off the formal timeline,” said Brynn Buskirk, Vice President of Marketing and External Relations for Phoebe. With nearly 80 apartments under contract, space is filling up quickly for the independent living community that is projected to be complete by Summer 2023.

“We’ve had tremendous support from the surrounding community in purchasing and developing this lifestyle-focused independent living community,” said Scott Stevenson, President/CEO Phoebe Ministries. “The Phoebe community couldn’t be more excited to finally, officially, break ground here in Emmaus.”

WFMZ69 provided coverage of the event. The video can be viewed here.

Please enjoy the following photographs of the Groundbreaking Ceremony:

Pictured Left To Right: Amanda Laporte, Executive Director of Phoebe Richland & Chestnut Ridge at Rodale, Nick Tranguch, Phoebe Board Member, Michell Staska-Pier, Phoebe Vice President of Health Care Services, Rev. Bill Worley, Phoebe Board Member, Bill Hacker, Phoebe Vice Chairperson of the Board, Rev. Dr. Hilary J. Barrett, Phoebe Chair of the Board, Scott Stevenson, Phoebe President & CEO, Tom Baer, Phoebe CFO, Bob Richards, Phoebe COO, Rev. Dr. David Charles Smith, Phoebe Board Member.

Pictured Left To Right: Rev. Dr. David Charles Smith, Phoebe Board Member, Nick Tranguch, Phoebe Board Member, Rev. Bill Worley, Phoebe Board Member, Bill Hacker, Phoebe Vice Chairperson of the Board, Rev. Dr. Hilary J. Barrett, Phoebe Chair of the Board, Scott Stevenson, Phoebe President & CEO, Lee Ann Gilbert, Mayor of Emmaus, Shane Pepe, Emmaus Borough Manager, Michael Funk, Wohlsen Construction Co., Jeff Sturla, Wohlsen Construction Co., Andrew Allwine, RLPS Architects, Lisa Cowan, RLPS Interiors.

Pictured Left to Right: Derek Bauer, Wohlsen Construction Co., Sarah Kneller, Wohlsen Construction Co., Andrew Allwine, RLPS Architects, Rev. Dr. Hilary J. Barrett, Phoebe Chair of the Board, Scott Stevenson, Phoebe President & CEO, Lisa Cowan, RLPS Interiors, Michael Funk, Wohlsen Construction Co., Jeff Sturla, Wohlsen Construction Co.

Pictured Left to Right: Michell Staska-Pier, Phoebe Vice President of Health Care Services, Jim Hersh, Phoebe Director Facility Maintenance & Plant Operations, Amanda Laporte, Executive Director of Phoebe Richland & Chestnut Ridge at Rodale, Katie Erdman, Regional Sales Manager, Brandy Drago, Sales Advisor, Scott Stevenson, Phoebe President & CEO, Bob Richards, Phoebe COO, Tom Baer, Phoebe CFO, Brynn Buskirk, Phoebe Vice President of Marketing and External Relations.