Nascentia unveils renovated Beeches Manor

ROME, N.Y. — Nascentia Health recently cut the ribbon on the newly renovated Beeches Manor, the first phase of improvements and changes planned at the Beeches complex.

The health-care agency has had an office on the Beeches property since about 2011, COO Cheryl Manna says. About a decade in, Destito Realty, Inc. reached out to Nascentia about purchasing the property, she notes, and Nascentia became the new owner in April 2021.

Work began soon after on the Manor. It needed some TLC, Manna says, and was a priority because it’s also the hub of the property.

The Hayner Hoyt Corporation of Syracuse served as general contractor for the project, which updated the kitchen, three banquet rooms, and pub. That included all-new restaurant-grade equipment for the kitchen, restoring or replacing flooring, plaster and woodwork restoration, gas-fireplace inserts, installing new windows, replacing the HVAC system, and new state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment. Copper donated by Revere Copper was incorporated into the bar area.

The goal was to not only modernize things, but also keep the charm and appeal of the 1917 stone mansion, she says. Rather than replace all the old furniture, much was left with new pieces scattered here and there. 

The Manor has room for up to 450 people for events, and can also host smaller gatherings like corporate meetings, bridal and baby showers, and seminars. There is an outdoor deck, as well as a lawn area large enough to hold an event tent.

The space is still available for rental for events, and Manna says Nascentia also hopes to make use of the space for the residents it will have on the property eventually. The pub will soon be open to the public for light dinner fare a few days a week.

Future Manor renovations include restoring the second floor to provide guest accommodations.

The next phase of renovations in the multi-year plan to transform the Beeches property into an active adult retirement community includes renovating the Beeches Inn into 55 units of accessible senior housing. Future development will include patio homes.

Some housing may be for sale, while other units are leased, Manna says, Those details are still being worked out as plans are drawn up.

“One of the things we were excited about was the ability to create some housing on the property,” she says. “The right kind of housing is hard to come by for seniors.”

Nascentia is applying for Homes and Community Renewal funding as well as Health Care Transformation funding from the state for the next phase of the project, which includes the housing as well as transforming one of the buildings on the property into a larger office for Nascentia.

The medical offices would house Nascentia’s current operations, Manna says, and also be large enough to provide other services such as primary care.

Other planned work includes repairing an existing pool, including restoring the adjacent stone pool house, and possibly adding fountains with some outdoor seating. Nascentia would also like to add a second pool and other outdoor amenities such as pickleball courts, a gazebo, walking trails, cart paths, and a pavilion.

In the lower level of the Manor, “we’re looking at possibly adding gym or spa services,” Manna says.

“It’s really going to be a hopping property when it’s finished,” she quips.

Nascentia Health is a home-health-care agency serving 48 counties. It employs more than 500 people at offices in Syracuse, Rome, Rochester, Buffalo, and Albany.