The Benedictine Sisters of Mother of God Monastery are transforming their 500-acre property in Watertown, South Dakota, into a multi-generational community known as The Village at Harmony Hill. The project, which began in 2021, converts the monastery land into a site for housing, health care, education, and commercial use. Roughly 30 sisters remain at the monastery, with an average age of 86 at the time the development decision was made.
The sisters chose to develop the land as a way to remain on the property while providing for their own end-of-life care and creating a community legacy. Marketing director Dalton Wagner stated that the sisters opted for development over two other possibilities: selling the land for their own care or moving to a monastery in Yankton. The project involves partnerships with the city of Watertown, South Dakota Housing, the Good Samaritan Society, and several private construction and management firms.
Plans for the campus include up to 700 residences, ranging from affordable single-family homes and apartments to assisted-living and memory care units. The development also features a child care center designed for up to 200 children, an 80-acre commercial zone for hospitality and light manufacturing, and the Challenger Learning Center of South Dakota, a NASA-affiliated science education facility. A central area called The Commons will house a bistro, art gallery, and fitness studio within the original monastery building.
The scale of the project is estimated at $83 million in construction costs. It is projected to generate 2,000 temporary construction jobs and eventually support nearly 1,500 permanent positions. Economic forecasts for the completed site include $50 million in personal income, $40 million in annual consumer spending, and $210 million in yearly business output. The project is also expected to generate approximately $5.4 million in annual property tax revenue for the area.
Residents and the public will notice a "continuum of care" model where different generations interact on the same campus. This includes weekly visits between children from the day care center and residents of the senior-living and memory care units. Construction is currently ongoing, with work underway on veteran housing, 62 independent-living senior villas, and the first 40 of 200 planned affordable single-family homes. Completed portions of the project include the renovation of the monastery building and 14,000 square feet of child care space.