By David Fleet
Editor
Goodrich-An assisted living for the developmentally disabled is set to open later this year.
Nick Burnett, CEO of Flatrock Manor said his company started working on the vacant Goodrich Hospice Care Center, 7280 S. State Road about six months ago. When completed the facility will be equipped to care for individuals with autism, mental illness, developmental disabilities, as well as those with a dual diagnosis of MI and DD.
“There will be private rooms and the Goodrich facility will be top notch,” said Burnett. “Our goal is to assist those with special needs to live as free and independent as possible. We’ll work on the skill set to live in any community with emphasis on integration not segregation. There is a strong misunderstanding regarding the developmentally disabled but, these are family members that need care. Someone will be with them at all times in the community and security is paramount.”
Flatrock Manor currently has facilities in Lapeer, Flint, Flint Township, Flushing, Fenton, Burton and Ortonville.
The Flatrock Manor project is allowed by the village due to a previous approval of a special use permit.
Despite some opposition by an 8-0 vote on July 25, 2016 the village planning commission OK’d Grand Rapids-based Hope Network for a special use permit for the vacant Goodrich Hospice Care Center. Hope Network is a non-profit Christian organization founded in 1963 to empower people with disabilities or disadvantages to achieve independence. The company provides a continuum of specialized care for those with brain and spinal cord injuries, mental illness, developmental disabilities, and other disadvantages. Then on Aug. 8 the village council voted 5-0 to OK the project, following the recommendation of the village planning commission. The facility would have been used for an adult foster care facility with a capacity of 30 beds. However, in September the Hope Network project dropped plans for the business.
Jakki Sidge, village manager said the conditional use permit remains valid for one year from the time of approval.
“Flatrock Manor does not have to go back for approval on the same property,” said Sidge. “The permit goes with the property not the business.”
Sidge said the old hospice facility is zoned as a hospital.

However, due to the length of time its been closed, conditional approval which was granted was needed.
In 1961, Goodrich General Hospital closed after serving the community since being founded by Amos Wheelock, MD, in 1916. The facility was located on Hegel Road and Ridge Road. Soon after, residents gathered at a public meeting and submitted pledges and received additional support from the Industrial Mutual Association, Mott Foundation and General Motors, paving the way for a full-service, 53-bed hospital on 8.7 acres along M-15 north of Hegel Road. The hospital was named Wheelock Memorial Hospital, in memory of the founder of Goodrich’s original hospital. About 1992, St. Joseph Health Systems took over Wheelock and changed its name to Genesys Health System and the names of its four hospitals to Genesys Regional Medical Center.
In February 1997, Genesys consolidated its four hospitals, Flint Osteopathic Campus, Genesee Memorial Campus, St. Joseph Campus and Wheelock Memorial Campus into one with the opening of Genesys Regional Medical Center Health Park in Grand Blanc. Sometime after that Wheelock Hospital became a hospice.
In June 2013 Genesys Health Systems announced that it would locate its residential hospice services in Goodrich to a separate, dedicated wing of Genesys Convalescent Center (a skilled nursing facility) in Grand Blanc. At that time, Genesys, like other healthcare facilities across the nation, made changes to help ensure its long-term sustainability in the era of healthcare reform.
According to the statement issued by Genesys, these initiatives resulted in the reduction of approximately 100 full-time equivalent positions, as a reduction brought about through the Affordable Care Act and Sequestration.