Home may be 'House of Hope' Executive Manor at 1660 Christiana Street may become a home for teen-aged mothers (photo by H. Marc Larson). A nursing home could be a site for at-risk teen moms By Patti Zarling News-Chronicle A home for at-risk teen-aged mothers could open its doors at the site of a former nursing home on Green Bay's West Side as early as Jan. 1. St. Vincent De Paul has made an offer at the site, 1660 Christiana St., and expects to close within 10 days. The charity, working with the Salvation Army, plans to move its House of Hope for homeless teen mothers to the building. The purchase effectively ends plans by Wisconsin Correctional Service to locate a halfway house for federal prisoners at the former Executive Manor site. "I think this is fantastic," said Donald Nielsen, 215 Perkins Ave. "We live less than a block away. I didn't like the halfway house." He and his wife, Ethel, were among the more than 100 residents who attended a meeting in July to voice opposition to the WCS plan. "We're very pleased with (the House of Hope,)" Ethel Nielsen said. "We have no objections." Ald. Bret Bicoy said he, and the constituents he's talked to, favor the plan. "I've been to half a dozen neighborhood watch meetings and talked to lots of people, and have not heard single person voice an opposition," Bicoy said. "People have concerns, which is to be expected, but no one seems opposed." St. Vincent De Paul plans to open the doors to 12 young mothers or expecting mothers. It may use the remaining 11 units to offer temporary shelter for homeless mothers and children, according to John Finco, who's in charge of the housing program. He said the shelter, which would be called Door of Hope, will not admit men, and will serve only as an overnight facility. House of Hope is a three-month program for mothers ages 18 to 21, and provides a full range of social services. The facility is under 24-hour supervision. Finco said St. Vincent De Paul wouldn't have purchased the property without neighborhood support. He said the group planned the neighborhood meeting Tuesday to give residents a chance to ask questions. Just a handful turned out. "We want to be good neighbors, and we want to make the program work," he said. "We're very happy to do this, but we don't want to come if we're not wanted. If you folks don't want us, that's cool. We'll move on." Bicoy said he told the current owners of the site that he would support the House of Hope program but not the WCS plan. "I told them I would do whatever foot-dragging I could with that plan, I'd go to court, do whatever it takes," he said. "But this plan I could totally back. I don't see how I could live with myself or look at my kids if I didn't." WCS had been in the process of seeking a state license to bring the halfway house to the site. Bicoy said St. Vincent's bid put a deadline on the WCS plan, and when WCS didn't have the license on Oct. 31, St. Vincent became the primary bidder. Finco said Tuesday he would liked to have seen few more residents at the meeting, but that he took the thin showing as a good sign. "People vote affirmative with their absence," he said.