High-end apartments coming to Collinsville

A dilapidated former nursing home will soon be transformed into high-end apartment units.

For more than 50 years, the Homestead Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Collinsville housed aging residents in need of medical care. However, about three years ago, the building was deemed unfit to continue as a nursing home. The business shut down and the tenants were moved to other facilities.

The property at 501 North Main sat vacant and has been somewhat of an eyesore in the town ever since. Area realtors tried to market it to several people. They proposed a commercial property and shopping center. They reached out to area churches. They even contacted the school district to consider using it as administrative office space. Nobody was interested.
When Cole Guidinger, one of four partners involved in Integrity Land and Property Solutions, walked the property himself, he had a vision. What if his company could transform the 
property into high-end apartment homes?

“Really, it was the best use of the property to bring in tax revenue and clean up that area of the city,” Guidinger said. While his partners at first thought he was crazy, once he showed them his ideas, they saw it too.

Integrity Land and Property Solutions is an all-in-one real estate company. They use local contractors to build subdivisions, reconstruct and remodel houses, and – their real passion – help people avoid foreclosure and educate renters about budgeting and planning for home ownership.

Originally from Collinsville (his kids graduated from Collinsville High School), Guidinger has a personal interest in the town. He has used his work of renovating or rebuilding 15-20 homes in the area to revitalize the town through remodeling houses into open concepts and creating high-end rentals. He really wanted to do something that he felt would benefit Collinsville.

The vision is to turn the 18,000 square-foot building into Integrity Apartments, 17 units with eight different floorplans ranging from 600 square-foot efficiency apartments to 1200 square-foot two bedroom/one bathroom apartments.

The open floorplan units will be completely upgraded with granite counters, in-house washer/dryer units, stainless steel appliances, lighting and security in parking areas, a playground and dog park on the premises and lots of green areas for tenants to use. Structurally, the building is currently undergoing a complete overhaul to replace electrical, plumbing and HVAC. Integrity Land and Property Solutions is spending $2 million in renovations.

“We’re not skimping on any corners,” Guidinger said. “Basically the only thing that will remain from the original build is the brick façade.”

The average rent is expected to range from $900 to $1200 a month. Anyone is welcome to apply to live at Integrity Apartments. To qualify, applicants must make 2.5 times the rent, have no foreclosures or evictions on their record and have a good debt-to-income ratio. 

The building is currently two months into a 12-month project. The majority of demolition has been completed (the building has been completely gutted), and next week framing will begin. The complex will begin pre-leasing in February or March, and units are expected to be move-in ready in May 2025.

“Collinsville is prime to grow. We’re just preparing for that growth,” Guidinger said. “With this project, we want to create an upscale area that Collinsville can be proud of.” 

For more information about this project, please contact Integrity Land and Property Solutions through their website at www.IntegrityLPS.com.