Bryce Haugen
brycevincenthaugen@gmail.com

Howard Wergeland has lived in an independent living apartment at Eventide’s Linden Tree Circle in south Moorhead since 2013.
“It’s a very nice place,” he said. “We’re well taken care of.”
And when Eventide completes its renovation and expansion project, which broke ground on Wednesday, May 29, Wergeland hopes to move into a brand new unit, complete with a balcony.
“We’re really looking forward to the addition,” he said. “I think it will take care of the incoming populations of the next generations coming up. They need a place to stay, too.”
The two-year $18 million project includes a new four-story building along 8th Street and 16th Avenue that will add 73 assisted living units, for a total of 190 units when construction is complete. Some of the new units will be three bedroom and two bathroom apartments. There will also be underground parking, a restaurant-style dining room, a pub room and a theater. Eventide will add a new courtyard, with a fire pit and outdoor grill.
“All of that will be connected in one building to serve your needs wherever you are in life,” said Nathan Johnson, Eventide executive director, at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Eventide President and CEO Jon Riewer acknowledged the residents, including Wergeland, who had assembled on the building’s porch, for their contributions to the planning process.
“We’ve had such great support from all of you and I want to thank you,” Riewer said. “… This is a very exciting time for us.”
Consumers are changing in their needs and wants, Riewer said, and this updated facility will reflect those changes.
“These things aren’t only current needs, but a must in the future for older adults,” he said.
A major highlight of the renovated and expanded Linden Tree will be an 18-unit locked memory care facility on the second floor, something new to the Moorhead campus, Johnson said.
Moorhead Mayor Johnathan Judd said Moorhead is blessed to have the services Eventide provides to Moorhead’s residents.
“This facility is a part of what we would call the Moorhead experience,” he said. “Eventide plays an integral role and we are very proud to have Eventide here in our city. We are proud to see them grow and we are very excited to see what they have in store for the future.”
Rep. Ben Lien (DFL-Moorhead) said “it’s great that they’re expanding and able to help folks in Moorhead as they age. And it’s good that they’re in a strong position to do this in Moorhead.”