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Proposal could give Christamore House new purpose
A local pastor envisions transforming the long-vacant facility into a hub for community care
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — A long-vacant and once-controversial building in Mt. Pleasant could soon become a vital source of care and stability for some of the region’s most vulnerable residents — if local pastor Trey Hager has his way.
Hager, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant, is leading an effort to reimagine the former Christamore House not as a relic of troubled youth care, but as a multi-use facility serving children, seniors, and adults with disabilities. The idea stems from Hager’s personal experience.
“I have a special needs son, Hudson. He’s age 13. He’s fully dependent for all of his care. He’s non-verbal, and has epilepsy and cerebral palsy,” Hager said.
Though the project is not affiliated with his church, Hager said it closely reflects both his values and his family’s daily reality — including the financial strain many face. He shared that non-medical care for Hudson costs about $33 per hour, totaling nearly $295,000 annually, while Iowa’s disability and Medicaid programs cover less than $86,000. The gap, he said, leaves most families with no sustainable path forward.
In Mt. Pleasant, families must often travel long distances to access basic services — from Fort Madison and Ottumwa to Iowa City or Burlington.
“We don’t have [services] when school is not in,” Hager said.
Against that backdrop, Hager sees opportunity in the dormant Christamore House, which closed in September 2023 following repeated community concerns. Since then, the five-acre property at 724 North Third Street has sat unused. He hopes to breathe new life into it — not just for families like his, but for the broader Mt. Pleasant community.
Hager’s early vision includes care for children, senior citizens, and dependent adults. Considering the building already features ADA accessibility and a commercial kitchen, Hager sees a foundation for multigenerational use.
As Hager works to see his dream through, he is discussing various partnerships with other organizations including Milestones Area Agency on Aging to potentially prepare meals for seniors at the site.
“If we’re prepping meals for kids, we could also do that as a congregational meal site for seniors,” he said.
In addition to renovating the Christamore building, Hager is also asking the county to consider donating approximately seven acres of adjacent land. There, he hopes to build housing designed for older adults and individuals with disabilities — including those, like Hudson, who face legal and financial barriers to independent living once they turn 18.
“My son can’t hold assets in his name or he risks losing access to critical benefits when he turns 18,” Hager said. “That’s the case for many individuals with disabilities, which makes long-term planning for housing and care especially difficult for families.”
When asked about how many dwellings Hager would possible build on that land, he told the supervisors it would depend on zoning, but it could possibly hold up to 14 dwellings.
The housing would be managed by a private nonprofit foundation, not a public entity. Hager said the layout would draw on successful models from Iowa, Texas, and Oklahoma, and pointed to Mt. Pleasant’s Ashford Court neighborhood as an inspiration — homes with individual suites connected to shared common areas.
Hager told the board he envisions a phased rollout.
Upon questions from the Henry County Board of Supervisors, he said the Christamore building could be operational this fall, pending renovation plans and agreements.
“Ideally before Labor Day, most likely after,” he said.
The housing project would take longer, and its timeline would depend on zoning and public hearing requirements.
Though many details are still in development, the effort aims to bring lasting change to a site long associated with difficulty.
“I’m fortunate that this is my job and that they encourage me to be a force for good for the whole community,” Hager said.
In reimagining the Christamore House, Hager hopes to offer more than services — he wants to create a place of care, continuity, and connection for those who need it most.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
