SOUDAN-A proposal to turn the old Parkside Homes building in Soudan to a women’s board and lodging facility has been scrapped.

St. Louis County Planner Mary Anderson notified the township on July 11 that the proposal by Shelley Holmes, of Lotus Corporation, is no longer being pursued. St. Louis County was handling the zoning issues relating to the proposal. The sale of the Parkside building had initially been set for late June, but then had been delayed until July 14.

Shelley Holmes spoke at the Breitung Town Board meeting on June 24 to discuss her plans for the building. But questions were raised on whether or not the building’s previous conditional use permit would cover this type of use, as well as other questions about the management of the facility, the type of clients who would be housed there, and other concerns.

The Parkside building had been operated as Co-Z Sisters Retreat and Lodge by Linda Wattnem and LuAnn Zaudtke since late 2011, but the business was shut down when the potential sale was announced. The historic building, which was the old Soudan Hospital, is owned by Marian Zaudtke, who operated it as Parkside Homes for many years.

Holmes has not had any further contact with Breitung Township since the June 24 meeting, nor did she return calls from the Timberjay prior to press time.