Decades ago, Conroe resident Annette Spikes gave birth to her two sons at the Montgomery County Hospital on First Street in the city.Â
On Tuesday morning, after a thorough renovation, she walked back into the same facility built in 1938 and marveled at its transformation into the new senior-living community Landmark 301.Â
“It’s almost inconceivable as to how they could take that and make it into what they’ve made it into,” she said. “It’s just lovely. My mind cannot grasp this kind of transformation.”Â
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New senior-living option
The historic building was redeveloped by Kansas-based Overland Property Group since spring 2023. They have turned the space into 47 efficiency, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units for those 55 and older.Â
A grand opening with tours took place Tuesday morning and the first residents move in this week.Â
The units feature a kitchen, living-room area, bedroom, bathrooms, washer/dryer hookups and secure entrances. Community amenities include a library, community room, fitness center and activity room.Â
Tammy Flores, asset living regional vice president for operations, said about half the units are leased. See the Landmark 301 website to fill out an availability form and leasing information.Â
Building’s history as a hospital
Montgomery County Hospital, the first public hospital in the region, opened in 1938 when the city was in its heyday from the Conroe oil boom.Â
The 35-bed facility, located on First Street in Conroe, replaced the privately owned Mary Swain Sanitarium that provided health care during the 1920s and into the Depression era.
Larry Foerster, chairman of the Montgomery County Historical Commission, said the hospital was constructed in what was the city’s original core east of the railroad tracks and many physicians had their offices in the blocks surrounding the hospital. Â
The county hospital closed in the late 1970s and the hospital complex now known as HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe began to take shape on the city’s south side in the early 1980s.Â
After its closure, the building sat idle for some time due to the cost of remodeling and the removal of asbestos. In 2013, the nonprofit East Texas Dream Center purchased the old hospital for its headquarters to serve those in need in the community.Â
The nonprofit operated there until May 2018 when an electrical fire shuttered the building and city officials deemed it unsafe to occupy. It was vacant from mid-2018 through its renovation in spring 2023.Â
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New life for the building
In early 2021, Brett Johnson with Overland Property Group gave a presentation to the Conroe City Council laying out his plans to redevelop the property seeking affordable housing tax credits from the government to complete the project. The project did not get picked up for 2021, but $13.5 million in funding was cleared in 2022.Â
Construction began in April 2023. April Engstrom, director of development for Overland Property Group, said the building was in bad shape but the core structure was still good and it became a labor of love to bring the building back.Â
She called this one of their most-involved rehabs due to environmental concerns with asbestos, mold, animal waste and lead-based paint.Â
Conroe Mayor Duke Coon also spent time in the county hospital as a 4 year old having his tonsils removed back in the day.Â
“This is an anchor on the east side of town for us as we continue to develop the area between downtown and this side of the tracks,” Coon said. “It’s so important that we continue to keep working on this.”Â
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