Receiver: Bannister House drawing purchase interest

PROVIDENCE – Several “serious” interested parties have expressed a desire to acquire the Bannister House, the receiver for the nursing home said late Monday.

Richard Land, the court-appointed receiver and an attorney with the Providence law firm of Chace Ruttenberg & Freedman LLP, declined to elaborate on the exact number of prospective operators or whether they are from Rhode Island or out-of-state.

Land did say the nursing home has admitted four new residents, while a few have been discharged so the “census is going up.”

On April 7, the board of trustees voted to shutter the facility, which has about 80 residents and 125 employees, citing mounting debt of more than $2 million.

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But the receiver rescinded the closure plan in mid-April, he said, after the employee union at the nursing home, District 1199 SIEU New England, had expressed interest in trying to keep the home open.

“Working with [the union], there was very quickly interest from third parties to acquire the facility,” Land said. “I’m pursuing those opportunities.”

Land would not say how soon he might recommend to Superior Court one of the interested parties to take over the facility, but said the decision by the court typically takes one to three months. The R.I. Department of Health also has to approve any acquisition plan, which could take three to four months, he said.

Emmanuel Falck, director for the RI SIEU State Council, which coordinates activities for District Union Local 1199 SIEU New England, could not be reached for comment.

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