The Emily Program, which treats people with eating disorders, may soon be opening a facility in Orono, where the former Hill School is located.
The request drew enough concern from neighbors that The Emily Program staff agreed to hold a neighborhood meeting this week to answer questions.
Officials from The Emily Program hope to operate a 10-bed, inpatient eating disorder treatment facility within the former Hill School, at 2180 North Shore Drive.
If the process moves ahead as expected, construction could begin in mid-May and the facility could open for business as soon as the end of the year, according to Lindsay Brown, director of business development for The Emily Program.
The program filed a request for a conditional use permit with the city of Orono in December, and the Planning Commission recommended approval on Jan. 19.
After discussions about the program and the request at a Feb. 8 meeting, the City Council ultimately tabled the request.
The Emily Program works with patients dealing with anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders.
"Our organization believes that the former Hill School site in Orono would offer a peaceful, healing environment for eating disorder recovery," stated the application.
Brown said she drove by the location a few months back and thought that the building would be an incredible location.
"The setting is just beautiful," said Brown, who said that the location has a warm, welcoming feel.
The program currently has about 2,500 active patients, according to Brown.
The program has six locations, including Chaska, Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Louis Park, Stillwater and Duluth, and it is expected to open an eight-bed facility in St. Paul this month.
"We're not some start up trying to see if we can make it work," said Brown.
The facility would offer 24-hour care. The average stay for a client is four to six months.
Brown estimates that about 95 percent of the clients at the Orono location would be female.
Most of the care would be inpatient and almost all of the clients at the Orono location would be there voluntarily, according to Brown.
On a "rare, rare occasion" someone could be ordered by the court to attend the program, according to Brown.
It wouldn't be a locked facility, and clients aren't restrained.
"They're working so hard to get better," said Brown.
She said The Emily Program is under contract to purchase the building from the Hill School, which is a private school that closed last year.
The Hill School building, which gets its name from James J. Hill, was built in 1892 for use as a school house and community gathering space.
The building has served as a public school, a library and the original building for the Minnetonka Center for the Arts, which has since moved next door to a new building.
If The Emily Program's application is approved, exterior work will be minor, according to Brown.
Improvements include repairing the siding, landscaping and constructing a rain garden, sitting area and garage.
The interior will see more work. Bedrooms will be located on the upper level and the offices on the ground level.
"We don't do cookie cutter sites," said Brown. "It's going to be very unique."
Because of concerns raised by the residents, The Emily Program staff organized a neighborhood meeting for this week in hopes of answering questions.
About 30 people were invited and neighbors of current facilities will be on hand to answer questions as well.
"The neighbors thought that would be helpful," said Brown. "We're trying to be as open as possible."
Community reaction has been "more intense" than what she's experienced in the past.
"We don't go through this process every day," said Brown.
"A lot of the concern was about the unknown," said Melanie Curtis, planning and zoning coordinator for the city. "The residents don't know what to expect."
E-mails received by the city show residents concerned about what will happen after The Emily Program leaves.
"Unless there can be a guarantee that no unsavory type of treatment groups could be place in the Hill School, [we] respectfully stand against the ... change," stated an e-mail sent by Gregory and Julianne Peterson.
Mike Maddie also sent an e-mail objecting to the proposal.
"While the Emily's program charter is truly exceptional in nature, I am concerned about having a treatment facility located literally in our residential neighborhood within such close proximity to our home and children," he wrote.
Brown said the company is willing to apply to repeal the conditional use permit if the program leaves the building, which would mean a new facility would have to request a new permit.
"That's a big deal on our part," said Brown.
The application was referred back to the Planning Commission for discussion about a request to build a garage on Feb. 16, according to Curtis.
The City Council is expected to pick up the issue again on Feb. 22.
Mayor Jim White said he's expecting it will be approved.
"What's not to like?" said White. "You couldn't want a better deal."
Brown said she's very hopeful the center will open in Orono.
"We've invested a lot of resources and time in it," said Brown.
