Jeff Kiger: Heard on the Street: Child care, church and music to return to Rochester complex

Jan. 11--New owners are upgrading a former nursery school and church building in northwest Rochester for new tenants.

A long-empty complex of attached buildings at 1835 19th St. NW that once housed Bethany Nursery School and Evangel United Methodist Church was sold for $1.05 million on Dec. 15.

A group of local investors led by Brad Clemens purchased the property, parts of which date back to 1949, from Evangel United Methodist Church of Rochester.

Construction work is underway to prepare for Creative Stars Academy child care center to open in the former Bethany Nursery School space. Bethany closed in 2017, after operating for 50 years in Rochester.

The hope is to have the space ready for Creative Stars to start caring for up to 99 children in early March.

While many details are still being worked out, it is anticipated that Creative Stars will provide weekday care for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, with a staff of about 20.

Meanwhile, construction is moving ahead in the church portion for its new tenant, Living Hope Church. The church is not directly related to the daycare.

Living Hope launched in Rochester in early 2018 and currently meets at Schaeffer Academy, 2700 Schaeffer Lane NE. It is led by pastors Charlie Meyer and Paul Johnson.

If the project goes as planned, the church should open soon after the daycare, possibly in April.

In addition to Living Hope and Creative Stars, a third group is expected to use part of the space as a venue for family-focused entertainment, like a magician and concerts by musicians, such as the Christian artist Michael English.

More details on this project should become available in the coming months.

Jeff Kiger tracks business action in Rochester and southeastern Minnesota every day in Heard on the Street. Send tips to jkiger@postbulletin.com or via Twitter to @whereskiger. You can call him at 285-7798.

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