New Project

With everything else that's been going on I haven't taken the time to do a post about our newest purchase and MAJOR project we're taking on. This article describes it much better that I would ever be able to.

As of right now the office/reception area is done, and three units are framed up and coming along quite nicely.

By LACEY JACOBS, Ledger staff writer Mar 16, 2012

STOCKPORT — Rooms where Van Buren County students once learned reading, writing and arithmetic are being converted into luxury independent living apartments for retired and senior tenants.

Brothers Kirby and Kelly Cass of Twin Home Builders have teamed up with their parents Larry and Kristine Cass to purchase the former Stockport school and open Heritage Estates.

The family closed on the property — purchased from the city of Stockport — two weeks ago and immediately kicked off renovations. They plan to open the first five apartments by mid-summer.

The idea of redeveloping the 35,000-square foot school came to the family around the time its equipment was auctioned in the fall.

“This idea suits it really well,” Kelly Cass said. “We know that there is a need for this type of service.”

Though the 10,000-square foot gymnasium was built in 1953, Cass said the rest of the one-story structure was built in 1999, 2002 and 2006.

“It’s a newer building, and everything is built well,” he said.

The rooms, mostly 800- to 1,200-square feet, each already have water and sewer connections, easing the process of converting them into apartments with full kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and dens, Cass said.

The plan is to renovate 16-17 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Additionally, Heritage Estates will offer cleaning, laundry, meal and transportation services. Everything will be handicap accessible.

Common areas, including the gym, library, dining room and central courtyard garden, also will be open to residents.

Cass said the goal is to provide the sense of community that is important to Stockport citizens.

Letitia “Toots” Webber, her husband and son are leasing space in the school to open The Village Café.

Cass said the kitchen, built in 2006, is in excellent shape and only needs a few minor changes for the restaurant to open in mid-April. In addition to serving Heritage Estates residents, it will be open to the community.

The Cass family plans to open the gymnasium to the community as well. It will be available to rent for private functions and events.

Cass said the gym is ready for use, but will likely be repainted a neutral color rather than existing shades of the Van Buren Warriors.

Cass said the building also has space for a possible retail business, but nothing has been confirmed at this point.

The Cass family intends to hold an open house early this summer once some of the apartments are complete. Cass said it will provide an opportunity for the public to see just how nice the building truly is.

The Van Buren Community School District closed the middle school after the 2010-11 school year due to declining enrollment and budget pressures. It was then gifted to the city of Stockport in February.

Heartbeat

I've been waiting for weeks to write this post. I was planning to post a picture of a positive pregnancy test and annouce that we were expecting our third baby. Instead I'll be writing a story of heartbreak, sadness, and unanswered questions.

We found out in January that we were expecting our third baby, due in September. We were very excited, we told the kids and our families pretty early since I knew I would have to quit daycare due to the fact that I would probably start feeling sick very soon, as I usually do. The sickness started just as I thought it would. I always take it as a good sign, indicating that the pregnancy is moving along as it should.

I went to University Hospitals yesterday for my first prenatal appointment. I had no reason to think anything would be wrong, I was feeling sick, my belly was getting bigger, everything seemed just the same as my other two pregnancies which resulted in two very healthy babies.

The nurse took me through all of the initial paperwork, height, weight, blood pressure, urine sample, etc. Then I would see the doctor, have my exam, get some blood work done, and hopefully hear the babies heartbeat.

The doctor tried listening for the heartbeat, he searched for a while and couldn't hear it, but he said it's not unusual, it's still early. At the point I wasn't concerned (although I should have been because, now that I think about it, we've always been able to hear the heartbeat by 11 weeks). He brought the portable ultrasound machine in the room to check that way. He told me that wasn't a very good machine and he would send me to get an ultrasound by the ultrasound tech. I asked him if it was time to panic. He said "no," but I did anyway.

They got me into ultrasound right away, I watched the screen, looking at the perfectly formed baby, watching for some sign of life. Nothing. I was sobbing by this point. The tech just said, "I'm so sorry." She didn't have to tell me, I already knew.

I went in and talked to the doctor about what to expect now. I traded in my shiny new "pregnancy" packet for a "grief" packet and left the hospital in a fog, making a mental list of all the people we had told about the baby and all of the people we would have to tell that there is no more baby. The thought of telling the kids broke my heart the most.

I called Kirby and let him know. I was actually glad that I went to the appointment alone so I could have a little bit of time to process what was happening. We told the kids this morning, Clae was upset, I don't think Lydia really understood.

Other than being very sad and having so many unanswered questions God has given me a peace with what has happened. I know there is a reason for it that I may never know, but God knows and that's what matters. I think about the many blessings I already have in my life, my two healthy and beautiful children, and all I can do now is move forward and be the best mom I can be to those two precious little things, continue to praise God in the midst of this trial and know that Jesus has never once left me alone and He never will.